People’s Watch, a human rights organisation, and the family of one of the victims of custodial violence case at Tirunelveli’s Ambasamudram police station held a press conference on Wednesday, April 5, demanding FIR against IPS officer Balveer Singh and other police personnels. The Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Ambasamudram Balveer Singh has been accused of beating detainees and breaking their teeth using large stones and cutting pliers.
K Arun Kumar, the victim, met the media with his mother Rajeshwari, minor brother, and Henri Tiphange, executive director of Madurai-based NGO People's Watch, and described how brutally he and his brother were tortured by suspended Ambasamudram assistant superintendent of police Balveer Singh.
On March 10, Arun Kumar and several others were taken into custody in connection with a brawl and reportedly subjected to brutal treatment by ASP Singh. Afterwards, Singh allegedly threatened the men, warning them not to speak out about the violence they had experienced.
Madurai-based human rights NGO, People’s Watch aided the family’s press meet in Chennai. Advocate and executive director of the NGO, Henri Tiphange said that the case shows that the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 has been violated. “One such is that uniformed police cannot be with juveniles,” Tipahnge said. “There has been no principle of innocence applied. What mistake did he make? He went in search of his brother. If an enquiry was conducted, police would have known.” The wrongdoers must also be booked under the SC/ST prevention of atrocities act, he said.
“The crime took place with total connivance of officers at all levels, not just the police but also IAS officers. Even the hospital and the judiciary, which remanded them, and the remand advocate of the legal services authority are responsible. Various institutions have silently conspired together and a false narrative has been created to protect an IPS officer. Why is the SP hiding every incident that happened from March 10 to March 25,” asks human rights activist Henri Tiphagne.
Hence, it is entreated to exercise discretion on publication of this matter in the media till the completion of the inquiry for the impartial administration of justice,” he said. Reacting to the IPS Officers Association’s statement, several senior journalists in the state have registered their condemnation.
Human rights activist and executive director of People’s Watch Mr.Henri Tiphagne has strongly objected to the statement of the Tamil Nadu IPS officers’ Association president Mr.Abhash Kumar which said that “there is a media trial going in allegations of custodial violence against suspended IPS officer Balveer Singh and that various vested interests are working in social media to influence evidence, witnesses, investigating agencies and general public” in the recent allegations of custodial torture in Ambasamudram police limits.
