Taking note of the alleged custodial torture of Dalits by the Telangana police, the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday asked the state government to explain why there was no FIR filed against the Sircilla District Superintendent of Police and sub-inspector of Nerella police station.
The court was hearing a petition seeking a CBI or SIT probe into the alleged torture of Dalit and OBC youth in Nerella. The bench had also considered the letter by a retired judge, justice B Chandrakumar on the matter, Deccan Chronicle reported.
The court also sought an affidavit from the petitioners detailing the background of their complaint, such as when the complaint was filed, and to whom it was submitted.
V Raghunath, counsel for the petitioners told the bench that the victims had lodged the complaint with the Telangana DGP and deposed in front of the concerned IG of police.
He alleged that authorities have failed to issue an FIR despite the complaint and statement.
Telangana Advocate General D Prakash Reddy told the bench that an SI was already placed under suspension.
Stating that the victim’s complaint was backed by reports from doctors and jail authorities, who confirmed that the victims had suffered multiple bleeding injuries, the bench told the AG that it was the duty of authorities to register an FIR when they receive a complaint Times Of India reported.
“If your probe reveals that there is no truth in the allegations, you can say so in your final report. But you cannot refuse to register a case," TOI quoted the bench as saying.
The entire controversy broke out after a sand lorry hit and killed a local from Nerella village on July 2. This death, had sparked massive anger, as this was the fourth such death from nearby villages.
After the incident, police detained eight villagers (Dalits) from Nerella of Rajanna-Siricilla district for allegedly torching a sand-laden truck.
The victims were then allegedly subjected to third-degree torture, and also claimed to be verbally abused with casteist slurs.
They also made allegations that a police officer poured hot water on the private parts of the detainees and gave electric shocks to the arrested villagers.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also issued a notice to state DGP Anurag Sharma, over the incident.
The Telangana government earlier admitted to the High Court that there were six Dalit youth from Nerella, who were tortured, and accepted that two of them required tests and serious treatment.
Following this, a sub-inspector was suspended for “exceeding his limits.”