JOWAI: The video of a youth being brutally assaulted by a group of people in Khliehriat has gone viral on the social media in East Jaintia Hills prompting the police to launch a manhunt for those involved in the incident.
The victim, Batskhem Pala of Sutnga Pohshnong, was punished for stealing a blanket and a television set.
The police registered a suo motu case after the video went viral in Facebook on Wednesday.
“We have enough evidence to book all involved in the incident,” East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police S. Thamar told The Shillong Times.
The SP informed that a case under sections 326/506/109/34 of the IPC has been registered against the accused who were seen ruthlessly assaulting the youth in the video.
Tortured for owning up crime?
Pala, an orphan, works for Bhalang Shylla, a government employee who is also one of the accused in the case. Among other accused are Teibor Swer and Ning Pale, both of whom were seen assaulting Pala in the video.
Pala had allegedly stolen the articles from the house of a tenant of Bhalang Shylla on May 13. He was apparently caught when he tried to return the stolen items to the owner.
As seen in the video, Pala was beaten mercilessly by Shylla, Swer and Pale and he was later dragged into a vehicle and taken to Khliehriat Police Station. The police took the case lightly and sent him for medical examination and later released him despite his bad health condition due to the physical assault.
“We released him (Pala) as no one filed a complaint against him,” a police official said.
The victim was admitted to NEIGRIHMS by a woman from Khliehriat on Thursday.
Earlier, based on the video clip, CSWO president Agnes Kharshiiing lodged a complaint with the Sadar Police in Shillong.
Meanwhile, a group of JYF activists led by their president Poipynhun Majaw met the EJH SP on Thursday and urged him to take stern action against all involved in the assault of the young man.
