Vasai MLA Vivek Pandit complained to Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil and demanded instant action against five Thane policemen who allegedly tortured a 16-year-old tribal, who is battling for his life in a Bhiwandi hospital.
Pandit told that the boy lived with his elder brother and mother in Shelar village of Bhiwandi taluka.
On June 20, at about 11 am, he was taken away by two plainclothes policemen to Nizampura police station in Bhiwandi.
According to a complaint by the teenager’s elder brother Chandra Thackeray, his brother Babu Sunil Thackeray (16) had injuries all over his body and he said that he was mercilessly tortured in custody by policemen, after being accused of stealing 2 kg of gold.
The police let the boy go home on the condition that he should report to the police station next morning at about 11 am for further probe, the FIR by his brother said.
However, the boy tried to hang himself, but neighbours saved his life.
He has been now been admitted to the Sainath Hospital at Bhiwandi and is reported to be critical.
Pandit who gave a copy of the FIR registered, also said that the police has registered an offence under Section 330 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
He said that he has urged the home minister that the concerned policemen involved in crime should be booked under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, and charges of attempt to murder should be slapped on them, since the boy belonged to the Adivasi Katkari community which comes under the scheduled caste / scheduled tribe category.
Pandit said that it is a serious case and since the chances of the boy’s survival is low, the policemen should be immediately arrested and charged under Section 307 and other relevant laws.
When asked about the case details, a Nizampura police station official confirmed that the FIR has been registered.
However, he refused to divulge any further information about the offence.
The Thane rural police also confirmed that the FIR was registered with the Bhiwandi taluka police station and numbered I-130/14, which has been transfered to the Nizampura police station.
As per the FIR, the teenager was allegedly tortured by policmen in the Nizampura police station between 11 am and 10 pm on Friday, June 20.
