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3 AP cops suspended for disrobing women

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

A sub-inspector of police and two home guards attached to the Chevella police station on the Hyderabad outskirts were suspended today for their alleged role in disrobing and assaulting three women at the police station.

The suspension of sub-inspector P Anand and the two home guards was announced by state Home Minister T Devender Goud after he visited the hapless women at the Osmania general hospital, where they have been admitted for treatment.

Terming the incident as "unfortunate", Devender Goud assured that action would be taken against all those responsible for the incident.

He also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 25,000 to each of the victims of the police handedness. He also consoled the victims who are being treated in the hospital for the grievous injuries suffered by them at the police station.

Devender Goud said that a preliminary enquiry was conducted into the incident by Rajendranagar Deputy Superintendent of Police T Narsinga Rao.

The three women, who were working in an anganwadi run under the Integrated Child Development Services, were waiting for a bus at the Chevella bus stand on Thursday evening, when they were picked up by the police and taken to the police station.

The women had collected their wages from the local ICDS project office and were proceeding home when the incident occurred. On a complaint by one Suvarna and her father Mukunda Reddy of Devarampalli village about the theft of her mangalasutra (gold chain), the police picked up the three women on suspicion of their alleged involvement in the theft case.

Even as the women protested against the charge foisted on them, the policemen dragged them by their hair to the police station. The sub-inspector allegedly disrobed them and beat them up.

As the word about their arrest and torture at the police station spread on Friday, thousands of people from Chevella, Shamshabad and Shankarpalli laid siege to the police station, demanding action against the police personnel. There was commotion and tension in Chevella town as the protestors organised a dharna and rasta roko near the police station.

On receipt of information, police reinforcements have been rushed to Chevella from Langer Hauz, Narsingi, Shahbad, Rajendranagar, Shankarpalli and Moinabad police stations in Rangareddy district.

The protestors, who included a large number of women, demanded an ex-gratia of Rs 100,000 to the victims, besides the arrest and trial of the police personnel concerned.

Following the DSP's assurance on the suspension of the sub-inspector, the mob dispersed. The three women were later shifted to the Osmania general hospital for treatment.

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