After two incidents of atrocities on tribals came into the limelight, the Madhya Pradesh government dismissed Betul Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddharth Chaudhary late at night on Wednesday.
Both incidents occurred in the Betul district of the state in a span of three days
The Opposition Congress launched an attack on Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav, who is also the home minister of the state over, the incidents.
MP Congress President Jitu Patwari demanded the resignation of Dr Yadav from the post of state home minister. Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar termed the incidents shameful and alleged that the CM was paying no attention to the Home (Police) Department.
In one of the brazen incidents that came to light through a viral video on Wednesday but is said to have occurred about three months ago, a tribal youth could be seen hanging upside down after being stripped with his feet tied to a rope.
The victim has alleged about five-six youths thrashed him with sticks and belts after tying him with the ropes demanding weekly extortion money from him.
The victim, who runs a small food stall, lodged a complaint with the police. On his complaint, the Kotwali Police in Betul registered a case against six accused but could arrest only one of them identified as the main accused, Sohrab Hussain.
The police and the district administration also razed a structure allegedly constructed by Sohrab by encroaching upon 225 square feet of land belonging to the Anjum Islamiya Committee in Betul. Police officers said 22 cases are pending against Sohrab. The police have also recommended jila badar (expulsion from district limits) action against Sohrab.
Three days ago, another video from the Betul district had surfaced. In the video, a tribal man is being thrashed and made to squat in a ‘murga’ (rooster) position.
In this case, the police arrested six persons identified as Chanchal Rajput, Chandan Sardar, Gullu Chitrar, Ankit Chidhar, Nandji Jharbade, and Naved Khan.