Minor assaulted in Rajasthan after refusing to pay; 7 cops booked

Jaipur:  A case has been registered against seven policemen in Rajasthan’s Bharatpur after a 16-year-old boy was allegedly assaulted, threatened with a country-made pistol and framed in a false illegal-arms case for refusing to pay Rs 10,000 per month, according to a complaint.

The accused include five personnel associated with the District Special Team (DST), an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) posted at Mathura Gate police station and another police officer.

The case has been registered under relevant provisions of law, including the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, based on a complaint filed by the minor’s aunt.

According to the complaint, the minor faced repeated demands for Rs 10,000 per month after starting a rental car business in Bharatpur. When he stopped making the alleged payments, the accused reportedly threatened to implicate him in a false criminal case.

The minor’s aunt said the boy’s father died shortly after his birth and that she subsequently brought him to Bharatpur, where she took responsibility for his education and upbringing.

The complaint states that the minor started a rental car business in Bharatpur in December last year. Shortly afterwards, a DST constable identified as Dashrath allegedly visited his office and demanded Rs 10,000 per month.

The family alleged that the minor, fearing consequences, paid the amount for three consecutive months. The business was later shut down because of financial losses. However, the alleged demand for money continued even after the business had closed.

When the minor refused to pay, Dashrath allegedly threatened to implicate him in a false criminal case.

According to the complaint, the minor had travelled to Khatu Shyam Ji with friends on August 19. While returning to Bharatpur on August 21, his car reportedly developed a flat tyre at around 9 a.m.

The minor allegedly stopped near a shop to have tea when two DST personnel, identified in the complaint as Ankit and Manveer, arrived. They allegedly told him that Dashrath had called him and took him away.

The complaint alleges that Dashrath was present at the DST office, where the minor was allegedly assaulted with belts, kicks and punches. Constable Hariom is also accused of standing on the minor’s legs during the alleged assault.

The complaint further alleges that ASI Shivlal arrived at the DST office around 5 p.m. along with two other policemen. The minor was allegedly blindfolded and taken to an isolated location.

According to the complaint, a country-made pistol, or katta, was taken from a bag and placed against the minor’s leg. The policemen allegedly threatened to shoot him if he did not record a video statement according to their instructions.

The complaint also alleges that the weapon was later placed inside the minor’s trousers before the personnel staged a search and recorded a video showing an alleged recovery of the pistol.

Following the alleged recovery, an illegal-arms case was registered against the minor on August 21.

After learning that the minor had been booked in the arms case, his family reportedly reached the police station and secured his bail. When the minor returned home, family members allegedly noticed severe injury marks on his body.

The family subsequently approached the court seeking action against the police personnel.

Advocate Paramveer Sogarwal, representing the complainant, said an application was filed before the court on August 26. The court subsequently summoned Mathura Gate police station Station House Officer (SHO) Harlal Meena and directed that an FIR be registered.

Following the court’s direction, an FIR was registered at Mathura Gate police station on Friday against seven policemen.

Mathura Gate SHO Harlal Meena said the FIR was registered on the basis of a complaint submitted by the minor’s aunt.

The accused named in the case include Dashrath, Ankit, Satyveer, Hariom and Abhimanyu, along with Mathura Gate ASI Shivlal and another officer.

The investigation has been entrusted to Hemendra Chaudhary, SHO of Atal Band police station.

The allegations against the police personnel are subject to investigation. The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged assault, extortion demand and recovery of the country-made pistol will be established during the investigation.

With IANS inputs