A video from October 2023 surfaced on social media showing a 15-year-old boy and his grandmother being allegedly assaulted at a Government Railway Police (GRP) station in Madhya Pradesh's Katni. The incident has sparked outrage, with opposition leaders targeting the state government over the treatment of Dalits.
The video, which has gone viral, appears to show a woman and a minor being beaten by police officers at the GRP station. The woman told news agency ANI that she was taken to the station along with her grandson, where they were interrogated and assaulted with a plastic pipe.
"Police took me away; I was told that a senior officer had called me in. Once there, I was asked where my son was. I told them that I didn't know where he was, and told them to get hold of him, thrash him, do whatever they wanted. She asked me for information and then shut all doors and windows and thrashed me with a plastic baton. She also kicked me. I was beaten up all through the night. When I asked for water, I was hit again. My grandson was with me; he was taken somewhere else and thrashed."
A total of six railway police personnel have been suspended in connection with the incident.
"An old video of beating of GRP Katni police station cops is getting viral on social media. After I took cognizance of it, I have asked DIG Rail to go to the spot for probing the incident. As per the preliminary probe, I have ordered suspension with immediate effect of then GRP police station in-charge, a head constable and four constables," Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said in a post on X.
The Superintendent of Police (SP) of the Government Railway Police (GRP) took cognizance of the incident. Earlier in the day, five police personnel were taken off field duty in connection with the incident.
"There was a person named Deepak Vanshkar against whom 19 cases were registered and who was absconding. He was also externed from the district. His family members had been called to the police station last October for questioning only in this regard," Superintendent of Police (GRP) Simala Prasad told news agency PTI.
An investigation has been ordered, with a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) tasked with probing the matter.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Santosh Deharia had earlier told ANI: "A video has gone viral on various social media groups where prima facie it seems to be a case of GRP Katni in which a woman and a minor are seen being assaulted. We have not received any complaint in this regard, and if a complaint is filed, the investigation will be carried out based on facts."
Madhya Pradesh Police said in a statement that the video was from October 2023 and that the station in-charge had been attached to GRP Police Line Jabalpur. A DIG-level officer has been sent to Katni to investigate the incident.
"This game of political malice must stop!" Patwari said, sharing a video of the incident. "Dalits of Madhya Pradesh are forced to live a horrific life under the misrule of the BJP. If the Chief Minister cannot protect the people of his state, he should resign immediately."
SP GRP posted on X, "The people seen in the said video are relatives of a criminal Deepak Vanskar. 19 cases are registered against Deepak Vanskar in GRP police station Katni.” The police claim that Vanskar is a criminal under surveillance since 2017 and had absconded in connection with a theft case.
"A reward of ₹10,000 was announced for him last year after Vanskar absconded in connection with a theft case," the GRP said in a statement. "In April this year, orders were given to extern Vanskar from Katni district."
Madhya Pradesh BJP chief and MP VD Sharma condemned the incident, stating that strict action will be taken against those responsible. "The Katni incident is unfortunate, and no individual should be treated like this, regardless of their relation to a criminal," Sharma said.
"The Police Station Incharge has been shifted, and the investigation has been handed over to an AIG-level officer. We will take the strictest action against those responsible, based on the investigation. Such people will not be spared."
