Agra: An FIR has been registered against four police personnel, including three sub-inspectors posted at Agra’s Sikandra police station, after the district court dismissed a revision petition challenging an earlier order to initiate criminal proceedings against them in a custodial assault case involving a woman warrant-holder.
Details accessed by TOI revealed that the case stems from a 2018 FIR registered at Shahganj police station under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (mischief), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation). The chief judicial magistrate court issued a non-bailable warrant against Seema Sikarwa who was taken into custody and produced before the court on June 5.
Sikarwa later alleged that she was assaulted in custody by Runkata outpost in-charge Neelesh Sharma, sub-inspectors Surjit Singh and Neha, and head constable Seema. However, police said that during the arrest, she had “deliberately attempted to injure herself by banging her head against the seat of the govt vehicle to evade legal proceedings and put pressure on the police”.
Acting on her allegations, the court ordered a medical examination. During proceedings, her counsel argued that she had been assaulted in police custody and injuries documented in the medical reports corroborated the claim.
Taking note of the medical findings, the CJM court had earlier directed the Sikandra SHO to register a case against the officers. Police authorities challenged the order with a revision petition before district judge Sanjay Kumar Malik, but the petition was dismissed on Thursday, clearing the way for FIR registration.
Following the court’s order, a case was filed against Neelesh, Surjit, Neha and Seema under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 305A (theft in dwelling house), 324 (mischief), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of BNS.
Police officials have yet to issue a public statement on the matter. Notably, this is the third such case in recent months where Agra Police personnel have faced action for custodial torture. In Dec last year, three policemen, including an SHO, were suspended for torturing a farmer at Kiraoli police station. In Jan, an FIR was registered against four policemen for allegedly assaulting a milkman in custody.
