A man from Uttarakhand has alleged that he was brutally tortured by police, forced to drink urine and spat-out water, and made to lick officers’ boots after lodging a complaint in the Tehri district Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)’s office.
A probe has been ordered after his video went viral, though police maintain that several cases have also been registered against him.
Keshav Thalwal, a social media blogger from Lambgaon village in Tehri district, released a video statement on Friday after serving four months in jail.
In his video, he accused Tehri police of inhuman torture, claiming he was targeted for exposing alleged lapses in the investigations into the Ankita Bhandari murder case and the Kedar Singh murder case from three years ago.
Thalwal recounted: “On May 9, I was on my way to Mussoorie Road when two men suddenly dragged me into a Swift car. They told me I was required at the SSP’s office for lodging a complaint. Instead, I was taken to Koti Colony Police Station in Tehri, where SHO Dharmendra Rautela stripped me and beat me mercilessly with sticks and belts. I lost control of my bladder, and they forced me to drink my own urine. I was also made to lick the shoes of policemen, including Sub-Inspector Babu Khan and Sanjeev Kumar. Later, Rautela urinated on my head before others resumed the assault.”
Thalwal further alleged that when he asked for water, a constable brought him a glass into which Rautela spat and forced him to drink. He also claimed that he was taken to Jakh Crossing at midnight, where officers attempted to fabricate evidence by making a video of him holding a knife. Eventually, he was taken back to the police station and beaten again before being jailed for four months.
Following the viral video, Tehri SSP Ayush Agarwal ordered an inquiry, which has been assigned to Narendra Nagar Circle Officer (CO). Inspector General (IG) Garhwal has also sought a report.
“The investigating officer has been asked to submit a report within 15 days. Action will be taken on the basis of findings, and the officers involved will be transferred,” Agarwal said, urging the public to share any information related to the case.
The SSP also stated that five cases have been registered against Thalwal.