Bhopal- In a shocking incident of police brutality in Madhya Pradesh's Chhatarpur district, allegations have surfaced against the Naugaon police station for torturing four tribal youths suspected of theft. The victims, belonging to the tribal community, were reportedly subjected to severe physical assault and inhumane treatment, including having chili powder applied to their private parts. The incident sparked outrage, leading to the suspension of three police personnel, Assistant Sub-Inspector Shiv Dayal Valmiki, Head Constable Ram Jat, and Constable Arvind Sharma, by Superintendent of Police Agam Jain with immediate effect.

The incident came to light when Pratap Adivasi, a resident of Dharmpura village in the Naugaon police station area, recounted the ordeal to the media. According to Pratap, on the evening of July 15, around 7:30 PM, he and his companions- Shriram, Ritu, Meera, and Balandi Adivasi were near Shikarpura Road when the Naugaon police detained them and took them to the station.

That night, they were questioned and released by 10:30 PM. However, the harassment continued as they were summoned back to the station on July 16 and held until 11 PM. The situation escalated on July 17 when, at around noon, the police detained them again on suspicion of stealing oil from a transformer. The youths were allegedly beaten mercilessly, and in a barbaric act, chili powder was applied to their private parts. They were later released without any formal charges, but their deteriorating condition brought the incident to public attention.

In response to the allegations, activists from the Bhim Army staged a protest outside the Superintendent of Police’s office on Saturday evening, condemning the police’s actions as akin to treating the tribal youths like animals. The protesters demanded strict action against the perpetrators, asserting that such brutality against the tribal community would not be tolerated. Superintendent of Police Agam Jain acted swiftly, suspending the three accused police personnel and initiating an investigation into the matter.

Naugaon police station in-charge Satish Singh denied the allegations, claiming that while some individuals were questioned in connection with the theft, no physical assault or inhumane treatment occurred. However, the victims’ accounts, supported by eyewitnesses, have cast serious doubts on the police’s version of events, placing their conduct under scrutiny.

The incident also drew the attention of prominent political figures. Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh spoke to the victims over the phone, assuring them of justice. He criticized the state government, alleging that atrocities against tribal and marginalized communities are on the rise while the administration remains a silent spectator. Similarly, Leader of the Opposition Umang Singhar described the incident as grave and demanded stringent action against the guilty officers. He accused the Madhya Pradesh police of becoming increasingly unrestrained and targeting the tribal community systematically.