Six police personnel — including Station House Officer (SHO) of Vijay Vihar Police station Inspector Sunil Kumar — were suspended for allegedly ill-treating juveniles in custody.
The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has undertaken an independent enquiry into the matter. Inspector Sunil Kumar is now posted as the SHO of Neb Sarai in South district. Orders for his suspension along with five other policemen were issued by the Delhi Police Headquarters on Wednesday after the alleged brutality perpetrated by the SHO and his staff became public.
A burglary had taken place in Vijay Vihar area on March 23. Six juveniles were apprehended on March 27 on suspicion. They were illegally kept at a DDA flat known as 'lal Quarter' near the police station. Reports showed that it was an illegal prison running with the knowledge of the officials of the police station. The juveniles were allegedly beaten up, ill-treated and were not even provided food. Soon after the incident came to light, immediate action was taken by senior authorities.
“Among those suspended are the SHO of Vijay Vihar Police station Sunil Kumar, who is now the SHO of Neb Sarai Police station, Head Constable lal Singh and Constables Rahul, Rajkumar, Subhash and Akhilesh. The officers are suspended pending departmental enquiry. A case has been registered and a senior police official would be carrying out the procedural enquiry with regard to this matter,” said a police official.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) has undertaken an independent enquiry into the matter. They have also asked the Delhi Police to investigate the case and submit an action-taken report before the commission on or before July 17.
“It will be appreciated if the investigations in this regard are carried out by a senior police official not below the rank of the Special Commissioner of Police,” said Arun Mathur, Chairperson DCPCR.