SHILLONG: SP (City) Vivek Syiem is under National Human Rights Commission scanner for an alleged torture of two drug users in police custody in December last year.
After the matter was brought to the notice of the NHRC, a notice was issued to the Meghalaya police which led to an inquiry by the CID.
The victims are Robert Kharsati and Danny Dkhar, who had alleged that they were tortured by the police after their arrest at Laitumkhrah police station.
Following the NHRC notice in January 27 this year, H Marbaniang, Deputy Inspector General of Police CID asked Kharsati to appear before the police on April 21 as part of an inquiry.
In his statement to the police, Kharsati said “the two police officers who beat me were Vivek Syiem and another officer by the name of Danny whose full particulars I don’t know”.
According to Kharsati, he and Dkhar were beaten up on the first day when they were brought to Laitumkhrah traffic branch by Vivek Syiem and Danny.
Kharsati and Dkhar were arrested after they bought a packet of heroin from John Bagalary for Rs 300 in December last year.
Following their interrogation, the drugs supplier John Bagalary and his associate Zanglal Kipzen were arrested.
Kharsati and Dkhar were also questioned by the police for selling a stolen cell phone to one Sylvanus Kharshiing and also for stealing cash from a person at Dhanketi .
After the arrest, Kharsati and Dkhar were produced before the court. “Some SOT personnel took us to the SP office. “They started interrogating and beating us and asked where I sold the mobile phone which they showed to us. But I told the police that I do not know anything about it. One police officer by the name of Danny interrogated us. Two of them were holding me and pushing my knees down below and started beating us on the sole of our feet with lathi. They also hit us with the butt of the AK rifles on our bodies,” Kharsati said.
According to Kharsati ,the police also showed a camera and started beating him for stealing it. Police also accused him of stealing money and cell phone from a person at Dhanketi.
After the torture at SP office, the duo was taken to Civil Hospital.
“I was at Civil Hospital for 22 to 23 days after which I was sent back to jail. “The person whose cell phone and money were stolen came to Laitumkhrah police station and saw our photos and said they were not the ones who robbed him”, the statement of Kharsati said.
As per police records, the duo were earlier arrested by the police for impersonating as SOT personnel.
They were also accused by the police for kidnapping a person identified as Pynshai Rymbai, which, however, was denied by Kharsati who said that Rymbai wanted to purchase drugs from the drugs supplier John Bagalary and they wanted to prevent him.