In yet another incident of police brutality, some LB Nagar police personnel assaulted a woman from the Lambada community in the police station premises, leaving her with severe injuries.
The night patrol team had picked up the victim, Vadthya Laxmi, a resident of Meerpet, shifted to the police station where she was confined all through the night and beaten up.
Laxmi had gone to her relatives at LB Nagar on Tuesday evening seeking financial help for her daughter’s marriage.
After dinner, she went out to take an auto rickshaw to head home in Meerpet. It was around 11 pm on Tuesday when police approached and questioned her.
“They forced me into the vehicle and took me to the police station. They made me sit there. I showed them proof of my daughter’s wedding and informed them that I was returning home from my relatives’ place, but they snatched my mobile phone and started abusing me,” said Laxmi.
She added that they made her lie down and started whipping her with a ‘black strap’ and then kicked her with shoes.
“As I shouted in pain, they beat me with sticks. I was detained and beaten up in the police station,” she said.
The police claimed that the woman was soliciting customers on the highway, due to which she was picked up at around 2.30 am.
LB Nagar DCP B. Sai Sree told Deccan Chronicle that the police had initiated an inquiry into the alleged incident. “There will be a thorough inquiry and strict action will be taken against all those responsible,” she said.
Rachakonda police claimed that the patrol team had taken three women to the LB Nagar police in the early hours of Wednesday as they were creating nuisance at LB Nagar crossroads. They were booked under IPC Section 290 (public nuisance) and were presented before the court.
Family members and acquaintances of one of the women raised allegations that she had been subjected to police assault. “In response to these allegations, Rachakonda police commissioner D.S. Chauhan initiated an inquiry. After securing a report, he issued suspension orders against head constable Shiva Shanker and woman constable Sumalatha for their involvement in the assault on the woman,” they said in a release.