Criticisms leave police red-faced; DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta assures actions

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Faced with widespread criticisms in the social media for brutal assault on a specially-abled child by an Assam Police constable, Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta on Friday warned that any such incident would not be tolerated in future. Mahanta was also candid enough to admit that cops need orientation and training to develop child-friendly behaviour.

The child was brutally beaten by a police constable in the Bharalumukh area of the city on Thursday. The video was posted by his father (Palash Chaliha) in which he was said, "Why Bharalumukh police beat my special child without any reason?" In the video which went viral on the social media, the child could be seen on a bed with marks of assault on his back and groaning with pain.

The victim's father, in the video, said that post 6 pm on July 23 he along with his specially-abled child went out to buy medicines on a bike. Without any justification, the constable hit the child with a baton from behind resulting in serious injury. "Why have you hit us, what have we done?" asked the victim's father. To this, the cops replied saying, "We will put both of you behind bars."

Responding to the incident during a press conference held on Friday afternoon the DGP expressed regret and said that all actions would be taken to prevent the repeat of any such incident in future. "Anyone from the Assam Police (from top ranking official to constable) found involved in such incident in future will have to undergo a rigorous weeklong training to mend his behaviour. During the training the accused cop will be trained to develop child-friendly behaviour," Mahanta said.

Mahanta said the Assam Police has already set up a Child Research Centre to deal with cases relating to assault and abuse of children. The centre headed by the IGP of CID Surendra Kumar is one of the initiatives taken by the Assam Police to make the force child-friendly, he said.

Meanwhile, the accused constable Mukut Bania has been placed under suspension and departmental proceedings will be drawn against him.

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