Ambasamudram custodial torture | ASP Balveer Singh suspended, one torture victim does a volte-face
The Hindu
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said he had issued instructions to suspend ASP Balveer Singh
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced in the Assembly on Wednesday that he had issued instructions to suspend Balveer Singh, the former Assistant Superintendent of Police of the Ambasamudram sub-division in Tirunelveli district, who was recently accused of custodial torture and placed in vacancy reserve.
Responding to a special calling attention motion, moved by legislators of various parties, he said he had announced even earlier in the Assembly that the government would not make any compromise when it came to the violation of human rights at police stations.
He pointed out that the officer was earlier placed in vacancy reserve, following the initiation of an inquiry by the Sub-Collector of Cheranmahadevi. Further action would be taken on the basis of the findings of the inquiry.
Mr. Singh, a 2020 batch IPS officer, was accused by a few suspects — who were taken to the Kallidaikurichi police station for an inquiry in an attempt to murder case — of brutal torture, including the breaking of their teeth and crushing of testicles, last week.
A number of MLAs who spoke on the motion urged that the young IPS officer be removed from service and a criminal case filed against him.
Meanwhile, in a curious turn, Surya, 28, one of the alleged custodial torture victims, who was the first to accuse Mr. Balveer Singh of pulling out his teeth, did a volte-face on Wednesday during an inquiry by Mohammed Shabbir Alam, Sub-Collector, Cheranmahadevi. He claimed his teeth was broken after an accidental fall. However, a few other victims stood by their charge that the young IPS officer had meted out brutal treatment to them. “I lost my teeth as I accidentally fell on the ground,” said the resident of Zamin Singampatti under the Kallidaikurichi police limits.
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