Mohd Irfan
Despite claims by the LG Administration bringing transparency and accountability in the system, nothing has changed for special police officer (SPO), Sukandya Devi, who lost her husband in Police custody in 2014 and suffered strangulation on duty by Munshi of Police Station Gharota, where she is posted. After attack on her by Munshi, who woman cop is bedridden no take care of her suffering, though she repeatedly appealing SSP Jammu, ADGP Jammu DGP J&K Police and the top chair LG Manoj Sinha since 24th May 2013 through media, when she was assaulted while performing her official duty in the Police Station.
The SPO, J&K Police admitted at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMC&H) Jammu, is awaiting justice, who was reportedly strangled by Munshi of Police Station Gharota, Jammu, where she is posted. SPO, Sukandya Devi is admitted in GMC&H Jammu, narrating her ordeal to a news portal, RTI India News alleged that the incident took place on 24th of May 2023, when she was on duty from 2 PM to 6 PM. “When I gone to Munshi of Thana to inform him that I am leaving, Munshi in turn said it’s not 6 o’ clock. Then I went to quench my thirst, the Munshi from behind came and caught my neck. Then I first frightened and taken aback as what happened in shorter duration.”
“The Munshi hit me on my neck mercilessly”, the victim SPO shared her agony amidst choked voice and urging the administration to came to her rescue as she is writhing in pain. SPO Sukandya further told the news portal, “When I was posted at Mera Manderian Police Post, there also Munshi said to me why you not fall into mighty River Chenab and why you not died by committing suicide in Chenab.”
Aggrieved and dejected Sukandya Devi lamented, “It was 8 PM, I told him what wrong I committed with you that as you threatened me. Then Munshi strangled my neck which choked me as what is happening.” On being asked by the reporter, why, Munshi did this, the SPO replied that she don’t know why he did that. Since how many years you are posted that Thana, the SPO said, “I am posted there for last nine years neither I said anything against anyone and unfortunately he made abortive attempts to kill me and reiterated that Munshi strangled my neck. I have small children’s and my husband also beaten mercilessly by the Police”, she asserted in pain.
To a query whether at the time of incident other police officials were also present as you said that incident took place at Police Station, aggrieved SPO said, “Yes, there were several other officials present and they laughed when I was being attacked by the Munshi. Even Munshi said brought the tea so that her throat become soothe.”
Asked that none of the officials intervened into this brutality when you were beaten, SPO said, “Everyone making fun of me and no one have any sort of sympathy on me”, she maintained. The SPO divulged Police officials, Dharmavir and Ranjit took her to the hospital in their car and I turned unconscious and don’t know anything as what was happening. Whether there were other women constables also in the Thana when the incident took place, the victim said, “All other women constables get off from the duty at 1:30 PM.” RTI India News portal correspondent further asked the woman, who and why killed your husband, she replied that he was killed in year 2014.
“I didn’t know the exact reason behind the cause of death of my husband. He had been falsely implicated in the case and kept in the police custody for about 12 days in Akhnoor Police Station”, said the SPO showing pictures of his husband with marks on his body. “DySP released my husband from the custody after 15 days and shifted him to Bahu Fort Police Station. Police killed my husband. When we gone to give food to husband, Sarpanch told us that he was in hospital admitted. Snapshots shown that husband given severe thrashing as blood oozes out from the body parts of the deceased. Cotton stuffed into the ears of my husband”, the SPO wept bitterly rued while recounting the death of his husband, he died due to third degree torture given by the Police.
On further being asked, have you made a complaint, what the in charge Police Station did?, she alleged that nothing has been done into this case. SPO categorically stated that Police was responsible for all what is happening to me. The SPO asked where are champions of women cause, why they are silent, why higher authorities of Police Department are not taking action against the Munshi and concerned SHO for his inaction into the case. Son of the victim SPO, Naresh Kumar, when asked how his your father died and he said a murder took place in Khour resultant there in Police on the basis of suspicion, took my father away and kept him in custody for at least ten days, and he died in Police custody. “The then SSP Jammu, compensated our family with a SPO’s job to my mother”, he added.
The Author is practicing lawyer at J&K High Court
