Gehlot orders probe into thrashing of disabled man in Balasore

Taking cognisance of a video clip purportedly showing RPF officers mercilessly thrashing a disabled man in Bhubaneswar's Balasore station, Union Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot today ordered an inquiry into the matter, terming the episode as "deplorable".

In a series of tweets, Gehlot also termed the incident as "an act of criminality" and said he has ordered the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, which is a division of the Union Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, to probe the matter.

"Strict action will be taken against those found guilty during the probe. Differently-abled persons are an integral part of our society," the minister said.
 

In a video which came to light yesterday, a disabled man was assaulted in public at Balasore station by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel who alleged that the elderly man tried to steal a mobile phone of one of the passengers.

According to the onlookers, the man denied stealing the mobile phone but the RPF personnel ignored his plea.