Police brutality on Madhya Pradesh women evokes sharp criticism

Stern public criticism is being voiced after policemen were caught on camera assaulting a group of mourning women in Karera in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri District.

The incident took place over the weekend, when a group of villagers from Khaira Kotia village arrived in Karera to file a police complaint in connection with the murder of one of their relatives.

When some discrepancies were detected in the first information report prepared by the police, it resulted in an argument and led to senior police personnel physically assaulting some of the villagers, including women.

The women blocked the road in front of the police station to protest against the apathy of the police, which led to them being assaulted.

Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Uma Shankar Gupta said in state capital Bhopal that action will be taken against the erring police personnel.

"I have asked for an inquiry report. We should get the results by today. We shall decide the next course of action based on it. The police have to take harsh steps sometimes to maintain law and order. But, we cannot allow anyone to act shamelessly," said Gupta.

The opposition Congress party accused the BJP-led state government of perpetrating a regime of brutality.

"This incident has exposed the inhuman face of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the police. The Chief Minister and Home (interior) Minister of Madhya Pradesh must initiate action against Inderjeet Tyagi (the policeman) who misbehaved with relations of the dead person. He should be tried by law. The crimes against women are increasing day by day in Madhya Pradesh. If the police commits an act of brutality on them and terrorises women, then the Congress is concerned as to which direction Madhya Pradesh is headed to," said Pankaj Chaturvedi, spokesperson of Madhya Pradesh Congress.

National Commission for Women chairman Mamata Sharma said in New Delhi that the guilty should be punished.

"Since the women are being beaten up like this, the chief minister should tell his police personnel to behave. The police personnel who have indulged in such an act should face investigation and they should be suspended," said Sharma.