Belagavi: Picture of a CRPF Cobra Commando chained in Karnataka’ Belagavi police station has gone viral on social media and has evoked anger among the netizens.
Sachin Sunil Sawant, the Commando was on leave till April 11 and was hence in his village- Yaksamba village in the Chikkodi Taluk in Belgavi district. With the lockdown extension, he could not return to work.
As per the local police, he was seen roaming on the streets without any protective mask and on being questioned, he hurled abuses and used filthy langage at the police on April 23.
The commando was arrested and sent to judicial custody and was allegedly mishandled and chained at Belagavi police station.
Sawant’s family has alleged that he was handcuffed and assaulted by the police and his unit – 207 Cobra – which is posted for anti-Naxal operations, has put him under deemed suspension.
Now, the CRPF had written to the state police chief with regard to this issue and the bail plea of the Commando will come before the Court on Tuesday.
“CRPF too shall be in court through a local officer. Thereafter investigation shall be followed up to take it to the logical conclusion,” M Dhinakaran, DIG, official spokesperson CRPF told Hindustan Times.
A twitter user Mithanshu Chaudhary had shared the story of the COBRA commando in a post, detailing the incident. The CRPF staffer was seen tied up in chains in the police station.
However, as per Chaudhary, on 23 April, the jawan was cleaning his bike in front of his house when he was approached by the police and accosted for not wearing a mask. Sachin Sawant was then allegedly beaten by the police personnel, without any warning.
Chaudhary claimed that despite informing the police personnel that he is a CRPF commando and is currently on leave, and since he was cleaning his bike in front of his own house and not going anywhere, and thus he did not need to wear a mask, the police personnel allegedly kept beating and abusing him.
Chaudhary’s post added that Sachin Sawant then was paraded to the police station in handcuffs and was put under custody. The SHO of the police station had allegedly registered an FIR under section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty),504 & 505 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of IPC.
Chaudhary has informed that the FIR has been registered without informing the controlling authority of the CRPF commando.
Meanwhile, journalist Soumyadipta has shared a video showing how the cops attacked the commando.
