In Bihar’s Katihar, two police officials and two Home Guards have been suspended following the viral release of a video showing them violently beating a mentally challenged man with sticks. The video depicts the victim, who had done nothing wrong, being attacked while seated beside a police vehicle, with one officer holding his hands to assist in the assault. The incident prompted Katihar’s Superintendent of Police, Vaibhav Sharma, to take immediate action, suspending Assistant Sub Inspector Kedar Prasad Yadav and Constable Preeti Kumari, while the Home Guards face a year-long suspension. An FIR has also been filed against driver Bambam Kumar.
In Bihar’s Katihar, two police officers have been suspended, along with two Home Guards and a driver, after a video surfaced showing them violently assaulting a mentally challenged man with sticks.
The disturbing footage, which gained traction on Wednesday, depicts a Home Guard member—part of a volunteer auxiliary force—and a police officer attacking the man as he sits on the road, leaning against a police vehicle. A man, seemingly the vehicle’s driver, exits the vehicle, takes a stick from one of the officials, and begins to strike the victim repeatedly on his legs. Meanwhile, the other officer restrains the victim’s hands to aid his assailant and even instructs him to stop.
Despite the victim’s pleas for mercy, the driver continues to beat him before dragging him to the rear of the vehicle with the help of the other officer.
The incident occurred in the Chhohar gram panchayat area of Katihar’s Sameli. Bystanders reported that the victim had not committed any offense and was assaulted by the officials and the driver for no apparent reason.
Following the video’s widespread sharing, Katihar Superintendent of Police (SP) Vaibhav Sharma announced on Thursday that decisive action has been taken against Assistant Sub Inspector Kedar Prasad Yadav, Constable Preeti Kumari from the Pothiya police station, Home Guards Sikandar Rai and Kishore Mahato, as well as private driver Bambam Kumar.
Yadav and Kumari have been suspended immediately, while the Home Guards, Rai and Mahato, have been ordered to remain off duty for one year. An FIR has been lodged against the driver, Bambam Kumar.
Mr. Sharma stated that Deputy SP Dharmendra Kumar has been instructed to investigate the matter thoroughly and submit a report.