Tamil Nadu CM suspends IPS officer accused of custodial torture

IPS officer Balveer was already removed from his post as assistant superintendent of police of the Ambasamudram sub-division in the Tirunelveli district and put on a compulsory waitlist. A high-level inquiry was initiated against him.

NewsBharati 30-Mar-2023 12:38:14 PM

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Chennai, March 30 :Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin Wednesday said he had issued orders to suspend Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Balveer Singh, who has been accused of torturing suspects by pulling out their teeth and crushing the testicles of two men.

Balveer was already removed from his post as assistant superintendent of police of the Ambasamudram sub-division in the Tirunelveli district and put on a compulsory waitlist. A high-level inquiry was initiated against him.

“I would like to inform you that I have ordered for the suspension of the assistant superintendent of police, Ambasamudram sub-division. I am assuring that after receiving the full inquiry report, the due course of action will be initiated against those who were involved in the incident,” Stalin said.

TN IPS officer Balveer Singh posted in Tirunelveli district, Tamilnadu accused of pulling out suspects' teeth with pliers. He did this to the suspects who is economically weaker. Who gave him this authority to torture? Rich people don't make mistakes? will he do this to him? pic.twitter.com/SmwlDsnoSY
— Devakumaar (@DrDevakumaar) March 28, 2023

Stalin also claimed that crime incidents have reduced after the DMK assumed charge. He said the police department has been given a free hand to take quick measures. He noted that whoever might be accused in incidents like murders, without seeing any partiality or party affiliations, due course of inquiry is conducted and they are arrested,” he said.

The government took action against Singh after photos and videos of the victims, including men with their teeth missing, circulated on social media, triggering an intense outrage.

One of the videos shows a victim allegedly tortured by Singh, Chellappa, accusing Singh of torturing them inside a police station a few days ago. He and his brothers had a dispute with their relatives, and all of them had been brought to the police station that day, Chellappa claimed in the video.

He alleged that Singh, initially in uniform, changed into a T-shirt, track pants and white gloves and called him in first. “Two officers gripped my hands and sir (Singh) pulled my hair back and used a stone to break my teeth,” he alleged in the video, opening his mouth to show his top incisor tooth missing.

“He kept knocking on my tooth. He tore my gums. I was bleeding but he didn’t let go of me. He also beat my brother and relatives,” he alleged.