Alleged thief brutally thrashed by crowd and police
Bhagalpur (Bihar, India), SVM News, August 29, 2007: An young man named Aurangzeb alias Salim was mercilessly beaten by a crowd, tied to a policeman's motorcycle and dragged after being accused of stealing a gold chain in Nathnagar town of Bhagalpur district in Bihar State in India on August 26.
Aurangzeb had allegedly snatched a gold chain from a devotee Shanti Devi in front of Manskamnadhish temple here following which he was ruthlessly thrashed by a crowd.
Aurangzeb dragging by policeman's motorcycle
L.B. Singh, the Assistant Sub Inspector of police and constable Ramchandra Rai arrived at the scene and took him into custody. One of them then tied Aurangzeb by his foot to the vehicle and dragged him on the street for some distance. He was then dumped on a cycle-cart to be taken to the police station before being sent to a hospital.
As some channels aired the incident, DIG, Bhagalpur range, G.N. Sharma said "it was an attempt to discredit the police which had done a good job in rescuing the thief from the crowd".
He said that "Aurangzeb, who was fastened to the motorcycle to prevent him from escaping, fell on the bumpy road accidentally and got dragged for a little distance".
Bihar police spokesperson Anil Sinha described the incident as "horrifying" and "shocking". "We condemn it. An inquiry has been ordered into the incident and the policeman has been suspended," he said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.
State Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah said instructions have been given to the Superintendent of Police to inquire into the incident.
Railway Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad, who is the former Chief Minister of Bihar termed the incident as shameful. He alleged that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has no control over the administration.
Meanwhile, Aurangzeb said to the media persons that he doesn't remember who else were beaten him up, for he lost his conciousness. In fact, he was too much scared to speak out against his uniformed tormentors.
Human rights organisations have condemned the incident and demanded immediate action against the policemen.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notice to Bihar Police on Tuesday to produce a report on the incident and indicated it could send a team to Bhagalpur to investigate the case.
SALEM VOICE MINISTRIES NEWS SERVICE (SVM NEWS)
