Maharashtra— Seven decades of its abolishment, India is yet not cured of the curse of Untouchability. The lower castes people continue to be assaulted, humiliated and made to suffer, in this case, at a police station- a place where people go seeking justice. A 28-year-old man complained that an assistant police inspector posted at Kalamboli police station in Navi Mumbai assaulted him and hurled casteist remarks. The cop allegedly spat on his face and forced him to lick shoes inside the station, the complainant said. A case has been registered against the accused police officer Dinesh Patil under the provisions of the the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

The incident is said to have taken place on January 6, at Kalamboli police station where the complainant Vikas Ujgare was brought by a police team around 8 pm. Ujgare told the media that he was at a Chinese restaurant with his friend, who had a brawl with the restaurant owner. They were assaulted by the owner and Ujgare called up the Police Control Room. Soon, a team from Kalamboli Police station reached the spot. Ujgare added that as he was hurt, he asked the police officers to take him to a hospital but they refused. “After much pleading, the officers took me to a government hospital in Panvel. The doctors advised the police to take me to a different hospital. However, the officers took me to Kalamboli police station, where I was forced to sit on the floor. It was then that Patil came and started slapping me,” Ujgare told an Indian Express reporter.

Hurled abuses, made me lick shoes- Ujgare

Patil is said to have held a grudge against Ujgare, who had on a previous occasion complained to senior police officers about the hesitancy shown by officers of Kalamboli police station to register his complaint after he was duped in a cyber scam. Holding a grudge, Patil thrashed him badly on his face and neck. The cop then dragged him towards a room, where he was brutally assaulted. The officer then asked Ujgare about his caste and when he said he was a Dalit, the cop abused his caste and spat on him, the 28-year-old said adding that Patil even forced him to lick his shoes.

Was hospitalized for 3 days

Ujgare told the media that the police dropped him at MGM hospital at 3am on January 7 and left. Owing to the injuries he had sustained in the beating, Ujgare said he was in MGM hospital for three days. After he was discharged, he hired an advocate and lodged a complaint. His statement was recorded on January 14 by the zonal deputy commissioner and the assistant police commissioner. He also said that the police delayed in registering the FIR. Ujgare met the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner following which the case was lodged on January 19. The case is being investigated by an assistant commissioner while the accused cop is said to be on medical leave, sources at the police station informed.