In a shocking incident, a posse of policemen led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Supraja thrashed four murder suspects in a full public view in Guntakal town of Anantapur. To give a filmi touch to the proceedings, they beat the suspects black and blue at the same spot they had allegedly committed the murder.
This was second such incident of a kangaroo court and “public punishment” by the police in Anantapur district. In the sordid drama, the cops brought four suspects arrested in connection with a murder case to the busy RTC crossing and started beating them with lathis even as some people took photos and made videos. Instead of getting alarmed, the cops directly looked into cameras like filmi heroes and continued to beat the hapless suspects who fell on the feet of the cops begging for mercy.
One of the suspects was Shekhar, who is accused of murdering his father-in-law Mallaiah following a marital discord. The other three were his brother and two friends.
Ironically, the police has called the incident of beating a “counseling session” and defended it by saying that the local people were angry over the murder of a helpless old man by a person who had married his daughter after a love affair but later started tormenting her.
The incident, whose visuals sent waves of shock and dismay in the State, evoked a strong reaction from the State Director General of Police B Prasad Rao. “I don’t approve this. I have asked the DIG to initiate a disciplinary action against her. If action is not taken we will take action at our level,” he said.
He expressed his regrets that the police officials resorted to taking law in their own hands.
DSP Supraja was already transferred to Greyhounds force but before handing over the charge, she decided to teach a lesson to the suspects. A few days ago another police inspector had resorted to public beating of a few youth in Anantapur district after complaints of eve-teasing against them.
“This kind of action is not warranted. Some time people expect quick results like in case of eve teasing. But it is the duty of the police to uphold law. A bit of sophisticated approach is warranted from them, not brutality of this sort. This should book the case and send them to the court”, said DGP Prasad Rao.