Assam: Cops torture and strip three sisters, one suffers miscarriage
In Assam, cops put their humanity aside and unleashed their barbaric nature on three sisters, to such an extent that one of them suffered a miscarriage. The sickening incident took place at a police outpost in Darrang district and two police personnel have been suspended. The case came to light after they approached the media. They claimed police sat on their complaint for eight days.
According to Indian Express, the women, aged 28, 30 and 18, were picked up around 1:30 am on September 9. The raid was led by outpost in-charge sub-inspector Mahendra Sarma. They were taken for "questioning" after a complaint was filed against their brother, as he had "eloped" with a woman from a different religion. He was reportedly booked for kidnapping on September 6.
The 28-year-old woman, who filed a complaint, revealed that the assault didn't stop till their brother arrived. The husband of the woman was also locked up. "First, they stripped my youngest sister naked and hit her with a baton. She is partially disabled in her left leg. They hit her on the same leg," the woman was quoted by HT.
Allegedly, Sarma and lady constable Binita Boro assaulted the women and "touched their private parts". "The officer in charge Mahendra Sarma put a pistol to my head when I asked why he was taking us," the 28-year-old added. The eldest sister, who was two months and 22 days pregnant, lost her child due to the abuse. She was reportedly hit in the stomach.
The brother arrived at the outpost at 6:30 am, with the woman. He asked the officers why his sisters were tortured when the case was registered against him. "We believe the two of them (her brother and the woman) were involved in a full-fledged affair," the 28-year-old said, revealing that her brother has an estranged wife. The brother is under arrest, IE added.
"When we asked Sarma, why are you taking us, he pointed a pistol and said don't ask too much. We want justice. Sarma and Binita and other 4-5 police personnel present at outpost should be punished for what they did to us," the woman added.
Another sister said there was "enough evidence" to show her brother was in a consensual relationship with the woman. But Darrang district police officer contended this saying that after the woman returned home she claimed she was "taken away forcibly". Meanwhile, Assam DGP Kuladhar Saikia said Sarma and Binita have been suspended and a criminal case filed. He sought an inquiry report within a week.
On the allegations of the women, who have marks due to the abuse, that no action was taken initially, Darrang Superintendent of Police, Amrit Bhuyan, said this is untrue. He said he ordered an inquiry on September 11 itself. "We are awaiting report of the inquiry. I have also asked for their medical report done after they were released on September 11," Bhuyan added.
