Bihar: Muslim cleric beaten up in police custody; Tejashwi slams govt, says 'Nitish no longer in his senses'

Five police personnel have been suspended after a video of the victim explaining the assault went viral on social media.
Image of Bihar police used for representational purposes.
Image of Bihar police used for representational purposes. (File Photo | PTI)
Updated on
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MADHUBANI: Five policemen have been suspended in Bihar's Madhubani district for allegedly beating up an Imam in custody, a senior official said on Monday.

According to Yogendra Kumar, the Superintendent of Police of Madhubani, those who have been placed under suspension include the SHO of Benipatti Police Station, a havildar, a constable and two chowkidars.

"The complainant Mohd Firoz had alleged that he was beaten up by police on January 29. On inquiry, no physical torture has come to light while he was kept at the police station for trying to speed away upon being asked to show the papers of his motorcycle", said the SP.

"Nonetheless, lapses have been found" on the part of the police personnel, which necessitated departmental action, he said, adding that Firoz had sustained minor injuries after his two-wheeler skidded.

"Use of force by the police while catching hold of him cannot be ruled out," the SP said.

Firoz, who was let off after family members came to the police station carrying the papers, which were found to be in order, had described his ordeal to journalists, a video clip of which has gone viral on social media.

"They pulled at my hair and my beard. Slaps were rained on me and they hit me with a wooden stick so many times that it snapped. They asked me if I were a thief, and when I said no sir, I have been serving at the local mosque, they retorted - so you pray to Allah? Only he can save you now," a tearful Firoz can be seen describing in the video.

“This ‘maulvigiri’ will come to an end today,” the DSP reportedly told Firoz.

"I was let off not before parting with Rs 25,000. I feel scared. I wonder what type of country I am living in," Firoz added.

The SP, however, claimed that Firoz was "released on a PR bond."

He said that the police personnel also failed to get Firoz medically examined, "as mandated under such circumstances."

"A trainee IPS, who was given the charge of Benipatti police station, has also been shifted", the SP said.

Meanwhile, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav stated that the incident smacked of "hostility towards Muslims harboured by the Nitish Kumar government in the state in which the BJP is a partner."

"The chief minister is no longer in his senses. So many Lok Sabha seats and assembly segments in that area are held by his JD(U), but the MPs and MLAs have become like BJP cadre," alleged the former Deputy CM.

"I am going to Benipatti to express my solidarity with the minority brothers. I must caution the police that if they think they can get away with blatant display of hate towards Muslims, we know how to deal with it," said the young leader of the opposition.

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