By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 14: The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC), Shillong, has taken cognisance of the allegations of abuse of power against the Officer In-Charge and other police personnel of the Dawki Police Station.
In a statement, the MHRC has also directed the Meghalaya Director General of Police (DGP) to submit a detailed report about the incident on or before July 1.
It is pertinent to note that a formal complaint was earlier lodged with the MHRC against the Officer-in-Charge and police personnel of Dawki Police Station, accusing them of tying a 65-year-old man to a pole and setting dogs on him.
According to the complaint filed by Advocate Enlang Sawian, the incident occurred when one Solin Suting, a resident of Pyrdiwah village, Dawki, was stranded at Lad Darrang village due to a vehicle breakdown. While his friends went to find a mechanic, Suting remained with the vehicle.
In a video circulated by news channels, Suting recounted the alleged torture he endured at the hands of the Dawki police. The letter to the MHRC Chairperson describes how the police arrived at the scene and, suspecting Suting to be an illegal intruder from Bangladesh based on his appearance, demanded identification.
Despite showing his Aadhaar card and voter ID, Suting was taken to the Dawki Police Station.
Suting claimed that he was tied to a pole with a dog chain belt at the police station and attacked by two dogs under the orders of the Officer-in-Charge. He sustained injuries from the bites and was left unattended despite his cries for help. “After the attack, the police personnel, reportedly inebriated, dropped Suting near his village around 3 am, threatening him not to disclose the incident or face dire consequences,” Sawian stated.
Suting had to reportedly crawl back to his village due to his severe injuries.
Meanwhile, the Federation of War Mihngi Local Durbars, comprising of 25 durbars, called on Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police), demanding action against the officer in-charge and other police personnel of Dawki Police Station.
“We condemned the act, especially against the elderly. They have the right to investigate but not to beat and torture anyone like this, “said the federation president, Joy James Roy Khongmawlong.
He also highlighted another recent incident but by the BSF personnel where an individual was reportedly thrashed after getting caught while plucking beetle nut.