A case was lodged against the cops who tortured an alleged chain-snatcher at Nathnagar town in Bihar’s Bhagalpur district on Wednesday, a day after violent clashes and protests over the incident rocked the town.
The situation in Nathnagar returned to normal after an angry crowd on Tuesday threw stones at a police station.
Agitated people were protesting the police high-handedness and beating of a youth, Mohammad Aurangzeb alias Saleem, who was allegedly caught snatching a gold chain from a woman.
NHRC steps in
Taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, the National Human Rights Commission on Tuesday issued a notice to the Bihar Police to produce a report on the incident and indicated it would send a team to Bhagalpur to investigate the case.
The youth was thrashed and brutally tortured by police Monday. TV footage showed a cop dragging him through the street tied to the back of a motorcycle.
Aurangzeb, who is in his early 20s and a resident of Nathnagar, about 150 km from here, was hospitalised in a critical condition. His condition was improving on Wednesday, according to officials.
A senior official in the state police headquarters here said a complaint has been registered against the policemen and they have been issued a show cause notice.
The accused cops, Ramchandra Rai and L B Singh, were suspended Tuesday.
“If a policeman doesn’t respect the people, he has no right to hold the post,” said State Home Secretary Afzal Amanullah. “The chief minister has ordered a probe into the incident and the Bhagalpur district superintendent of police has been asked to conduct the probe,” Mr Amanullah said.
Bihar police spokesperson Inspector General Anil Sinha tried to downplay the incident, alleging that Aurangzeb had a criminal background.
“There were criminal cases lodged against him. He was a known criminal in the area,” Sinha said.
Give me a chance: Aurangzeb
Bhagalpur, pti: Salim Aurangzeb, who was beaten black and blue by a mob and dragged on a motorcycle by a policeman for allegedly snatching a piece of gold, wants the community to give him a second chance.  Writhing in pain, Aurangzeb, admitted to a district hospital, said he can’t walk and his waist was hurting. “I want my community to give me another chance. I won’t do anything wrong.”