This Article is From Aug 08, 2009

Mentally ill man belted by cop in Jharkhand

Mentally ill man belted by cop in Jharkhand
Dumka (Jharkhand):

The story is disturbing. It is a story of how the police in parts of the country have no clue whatsoever in how to deal with individuals who may be mentally disturbed.

This report from Jharkhand is a shocking report of insensitivity, brutality and appalling policing.

Police brutality was caught on camera at the Dumka district hospital in Jharkhand. At the receiving end was a 25-year-old mentally challenged man, who the police say turned violent.

He allegedly threw stones on a constable, and beat a patient and his mother at the hospital.

The police had brought the man to hospital on Friday after he received serious head injuries in a brawl.

The fact that the man is mentally challenged and badly injured did not seem to matter. The man was repeatedly beaten with his hands tied.

A crowd gathered, but all of them just watched on. However, the police have ordered an enquiry.

"Whatever has happened is very wrong. It's a very sad incident. The police should have behaved decently," said N Pradhan, Jharkhand Police spokesperson.

The cop responsible has been put on suspension and a departmental inquiry has been ordered.

But does the Jharkhand Police need any more proof to act against itself?

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