This is an edited translation of a report published by ThePrint Hindi on 15 March, which was later cited by MLAs who questioned the government in the Jharkhand Assembly.
Ranchi: Beaten to death, skin flayed from the body after a thrashing, arrestees forced into sexual acts with each other — these are among the many accusations of torture that the Jharkhand Police face as allegations of repression mount.
Often, people — many of whom are Adivasis — are allegedly taken into custody after being accused of being Maoist sympathisers, or of offences such as theft, and tortured.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), the leading partner in the state’s coalition government, came to power in December 2019 after having decried atrocities against tribal people while in Opposition.
In an investigation, ThePrint found that out of 33 people who were subjected to alleged police atrocities between late 2019 and 2022, 23 were tribals, along with four Muslims. The others were Dalits or from other communities. This investigation is based on media reports and interviews with those jailed and their family members.
Eight of these cases took place in 2022. Of the 33 people, 10 died, while others were injured.
For an earlier but overlapping period, a reply submitted by then Union Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy in the Lok Sabha in March last year stated that 15 people had died in police custody in Jharkhand between 2017-18 and 2020-21 (till 28 February 2021).
Meanwhile, 194 people died in judicial custody in the state over the same period, according to the statistics.
Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that no policeman was punished in Jharkhand during this period, although cases were filed against two.
When ThePrint contacted the state’s tribal affairs minister, Champai Soren, about police action against tribals in Jharkhand, he said, “We will first conduct a probe from our level about what you are saying, then we will give some feedback on your figures.”
Hitting out at the Hemant Soren government, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and former state minister Amar Kumar Bauri said, “Police atrocities have increased manifold during the tenure of this government, as the government has absolutely no control over the police.”
“The government has unleashed a money game related to the transfer and postings of police officers. Posts of officers and police station in-charges are being auctioned. In such police stations, instead of paying attention to law and order, people start to concentrate on extortion,” he alleged.
Asked about the allegations, Jharkhand police spokesperson Amol V. Homkar said some of these cases are under investigation, while initial probes are ongoing in others. “If anyone is found guilty, then justifiable and stern action will definitely be taken against them,” he added.
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10 cases
Details of 10 of the 33 cases of alleged police brutality, going back to 2019, follow.
9 March 2022 — Subhash Modak ‘beaten up at police station’
In Chandankiyari, Subhash Modak was arrested on 9 March on charges of theft, and he was allegedly thrashed inside the police station. Once his condition became critical, he was admitted to a hospital.
Local MLA Amar Kumar Bauri raised the matter in the assembly. In response, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Alamgir Alam promised an inquiry into the matter.
24 February 2022 — Debu Turi ‘thrashed to death’
On 21 February, in Sahibganj, Debu Turi, 35, was picked up by the Taljhari Police for questioning on charges related to theft. He was allegedly thrashed in the police station for four days, after which he passed away in custody.
After a tremendous uproar from local residents, demands were also raised in the assembly for action against the police personnel responsible. The Jharkhand Police have handed over the investigation to the CID.
23 February 2022 — Anil Singh, Chhathu Singh ‘beaten up’
Latehar residents Anil Singh and Chhathu Singh were picked up from their house by police at 1 o’clock on the night of 23 February on charges of helping Naxalites. They were taken to the police station, where policemen allegedly beat them with sticks.
According to Anil Singh, “The posterior part of my body, chest and legs were hit with sticks hundreds of times. Due to beating, some skin peeled off from various parts of my body. After the beatings, the station in-charge poured petrol through my anus, albeit on top of the clothes. I lost consciousness while being thrashed. The next morning, when I regained consciousness, the station in-charge said that I was picked up by mistake.”
After the incident, the station in-charge was posted at police lines, while another policeman allegedly involved in the matter was made in-charge of the station.
30 December 2021 — Amanat Hussain ‘beaten up’
Amanat Hussain, a teacher by profession, was arrested by Balidih Police in Bokaro district on charges of theft. He said he and his wife were beaten up.
He said, “At the behest of police station in-charge Nutan Modi, both my hands and feet were tied to a stick. After this, two policemen grabbed my feet and started hitting me with sticks all over my body. I was thrashed so much that toenails on my right foot were uprooted.”
DSP (headquarters) Mukesh Kumar was entrusted with the responsibility of investigating this case. However, following the investigation, the SHO was cleared of all charges.
4 November 2021 — Sumit Turi dies
Sumit Turi’s family in Dhanbad said that, after the 19-year-old’s arrest on 1 November, he was severely thrashed, after which he was sent to jail on 5 November in a case related to iron theft. They claimed he died in jail after falling ill.
In this case, members of the Ambedkarite organisation Bhim Army staged a sit-in protest outside the senior superintendent of police’s (SSP) office. The Bhim Army’s Dhanbad district president Lokesh Kumar told ThePrint that the SSP had assured them that the police would conduct an inquiry into the beating and take strict action. A complaint has been filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in this case.
26 August 2021 — Mohammad Arzoo, Mohammad Aurangzeb
The police had alleged that Mohammad Arzoo and Mohammad Aurangzeb, both residents of Jamshedpur, had helped a Muslim boy elope with a Hindu girl. During interrogation, the two were allegedly pressured into having sex with each other.
22 August 2021— Sandeep Kumar and 4-year-old son ‘assaulted’
In August last year, Sandeep Kumar visited Ranchi’s Sukhdev Nagar police station to allegedly lodge a complaint related to a family feud. His four-year-old son was also accompanying him. At some point, the station in-charge, Mamta Kumari, allegedly grew furious and started beating up Sandeep and his son.
The NHRC has accepted Sandeep’s complaint, but no action has yet been taken.
19 August 2021 — Dhaneshwar Mehta dies
Excise department officials allegedly arrested a milk trader named Dhaneshwar Mehta without any warrant, claiming that he was involved in selling illegal liquor.
His health deteriorated severely during his stay in the police lockup. At first, the police allegedly did not show his arrest in the records. Later on, a video of an ailing Mehta was leaked to the media, after which the police accepted that he had been arrested. He later died in hospital, and his family allegedly had to pay Rs 73,759 to secure the dead body.
9 October 2020 — Prakash Gorai dies
The police had taken Prakash Gorai to Kalubathan police station on charges of mobile theft. According to the police version of the incident, he escaped from custody, after which his body was found hanging from a tree behind Kalubathan High School near the police station.
According to the deceased’s father, Dhani Gorai, the police hanged his body after he died in custody.
24 November 2019 — Bechan Ganjhu dies
In Chatra, Bechan Ganjhu was arrested by the police for allegedly supporting Maoists. During the beating that followed, he was reportedly asked to assist in capturing some Maoists.
His health deteriorated considerably after his arrest, and he died while being treated at the Sadar Hospital. After this, his body was kept lying there for 22 hours before post-mortem.
(Edited by Rohan Manoj)
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