By TCN Special Correspondent,
New Delhi: In yet another case of police highhandedness, lawyer and Human Rights activist Bilal Kagzi, along with his clients, were severely beaten up in village Kosamba, Surat District of Gujarat. He was beaten up by police officials of the Kosamba Police Station within the premises of the station. They were kept in lock-up for 5 hours and released around 3 PM. Kagzi fears of further attack on him.
Bilal Kagzi
The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, at around 10:30 am when Kagzi, along with two locals, Muhammed Rafeeq and Shahnawaz Khan, had gone to register a complaint about the destruction of public property by a local criminal, Mohd. Haneef Malik. The previous night, Mohd. Haneef had destroyed an RCC road of the village and blocked the way, with the claim that the traffic that passed through the road created a nuisance, since his house stood beside the road.
Advocate Kagzi, while talking to TwoCircles.net over phone from his village said, “Today morning, I was approached by some locals to accompany them to the police station to register a complaint of damage to public property by Mohd. Haneef Malik. But as soon as we reached the station, the police officials, instead of listening to us, started hurling abuses”. According to Kagazi, they dragged him and beat him severely when he tried to argue with them. The officials involved are Inspector Mr. A G Jadav, Constable Jaswant, ASI Kanti Surty and one driver who was in plain clothes.
Bilal Kagzi in police lockup
“They dragged me in the premises of the police station and at point blank, threw me into the lock up,” alleged Mr. Kagazi. “They also threatened to encounter me,” he added. “Tujhe human rights ki bahut padi hui hai…tumhara encounter hi karna padega, if you don’t stop working on all these issues,” warned the police officials. “No rules of arrest were followed and I was illegally detained for 5 hours for no reason,” said an agitated Kagzi. He was also forced to sign a compromise paper. According to him, Mohd. Haneef Malik, the accused, is an infamous criminal of the area and has as many as 15-20 cases in his name, including charges of rape. “But since he is a police informer and enjoys political patronage of the ruling party, nothing is done against him,” alleged Kagzi. “They can attack or forge a case against me anytime,” fears Kagzi.