Udaipur Police Accused of Brutality: Tribal Youth Hospitalized After Custody, Family Alleges Torture

Udaipur, Rajasthan - A case of alleged police brutality has emerged in Kherwara area of Udaipur district, where a 19-year-old youth, Abhishek Meena, resident of Banjaria, was hospitalized under suspicious circumstances after being taken into custody. His mother, Leela Devi, has accused the police of severe misconduct, claiming her son was brutally beaten in custody.

While Kherwara ASP Anjana Sukhwal claimed Abhishek had "no injuries" and his condition was due to intoxication—supported by fellow accused—his family insists the visible wounds tell a different story.

Leela Devi, a widow and Class IV employee at Udaipur Roadways Depot, broke down, saying, “I raised him alone after my husband’s death in 2008. Now, my only son is battling for his life due to police brutality.” 

Leela Devi stated that on April 17, police forcibly took Abhishek from their home without any prior notice. The next morning, she received a call informing her that her son was being presented in Udaipur court, but shortly after, another call came stating he had been admitted to MB Hospital’s emergency ward.

Upon reaching the hospital, Leela Devi found her son in a critical condition—bleeding from his legs, swollen hands and neck, and unable to speak. She alleged that police had severely beaten him but dismissed his injuries as "effects of intoxication," a claim she vehemently denied, stating her son never consumed drugs. She demanded justice, questioning why her son was unable to speak if his condition was due to intoxication.

Kherwara Station House Officer (SHO) Dalpat Singh Rathore claimed Abhishek was arrested for allegedly conspiring to commit a robbery. Police officials attributed his deteriorating health to "brain fever" and denied any custodial torture. However, Leela Devi rejected this explanation, insisting her son’s injuries were a result of police brutality.

A magistrate visited the hospital to assess Abhishek’s condition and ordered his transfer to judicial custody. Meanwhile, Abhishek remains hospitalized under police and jail guard supervision, still unconscious.

The case has sparked outrage, with demands for an independent probe into the alleged custodial torture. As Abhishek fights for recovery, the truth behind his injuries remains contested, leaving his family in anguish and seeking answers.