UP Police pick up the wrong Shivraj, he alleges custodial torture, cops deny
A case of mistaken identity in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur has triggered allegations of custodial assault after police allegedly picked up the wrong man because he shared the same name as a wanted accused. The youth claims he was beaten inside a police station, while police insist he injured himself after learning he had been detained by mistake.
A case of mistaken identity in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur has triggered a custodial assault controversy after police allegedly picked up the wrong man because he shared the same name as a wanted accused. The youth, Shivraj, claims he was beaten inside a police station, while police insist he injured himself after learning he had been detained by mistake.
The incident took place in Hamirpur's Kotwali Nagar area, where police were searching for a man named Shivraj in connection with a 2018 case.
According to the victim's family, officers arrived at their home and detained another Shivraj from the same locality despite repeated protests that they had the wrong person.
"My brother was not the person they were looking for. We kept telling the police they had picked up the wrong Shivraj, but they did not listen and took him away," his sister Roopa alleged.
The youth's condition reportedly deteriorated while he was in police custody, following which he was taken to the district hospital and later referred to Kanpur for treatment.
Shivraj alleged that he was taken to the police station without any basis and assaulted there.
The allegations gained traction after doctors confirmed that the youth had suffered multiple injuries.
Dr Dharmendra Singh of Hamirpur District Hospital said police had brought Shivraj Singh to the facility and described it as "a case of physical assault".
"He had injuries on his head, face and chest," Singh said, adding that the patient was referred to Kanpur after initial treatment because of the seriousness of his condition.
Police, however, have rejected allegations of custodial violence.
Hamirpur Additional Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar Verma acknowledged that officers had initially detained another man named Shivraj instead of the person against whom a warrant had been issued.
According to Verma, police realised the mistake while verifying the detainee's identity at the station and found that his father's name did not match that of the wanted accused.
The officer claimed that after learning he had been brought to the station by mistake, the youth became agitated and injured himself.
"He started creating a ruckus and began striking himself against the window, sustaining injuries in the process," Verma said.
Police also claimed that the detained youth has several criminal cases registered against him.
Verma said Shivraj's allegations against police personnel were being examined and that CCTV footage from the police station was being scrutinised.
"An impartial and transparent investigation is being conducted at a high level, including examination of CCTV footage. Whatever facts emerge during the investigation, strict action will be taken in accordance with the rules," he said.
The conflicting accounts have sparked controversy in Hamirpur, with the victim's family alleging that an innocent man was picked up and beaten, and police maintaining that no assault took place. The inquiry and CCTV footage are expected to determine how Shivraj sustained his injuries.
A case of mistaken identity in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur has triggered a custodial assault controversy after police allegedly picked up the wrong man because he shared the same name as a wanted accused. The youth, Shivraj, claims he was beaten inside a police station, while police insist he injured himself after learning he had been detained by mistake.
The incident took place in Hamirpur's Kotwali Nagar area, where police were searching for a man named Shivraj in connection with a 2018 case.
According to the victim's family, officers arrived at their home and detained another Shivraj from the same locality despite repeated protests that they had the wrong person.
"My brother was not the person they were looking for. We kept telling the police they had picked up the wrong Shivraj, but they did not listen and took him away," his sister Roopa alleged.
The youth's condition reportedly deteriorated while he was in police custody, following which he was taken to the district hospital and later referred to Kanpur for treatment.
Shivraj alleged that he was taken to the police station without any basis and assaulted there.
The allegations gained traction after doctors confirmed that the youth had suffered multiple injuries.
Dr Dharmendra Singh of Hamirpur District Hospital said police had brought Shivraj Singh to the facility and described it as "a case of physical assault".
"He had injuries on his head, face and chest," Singh said, adding that the patient was referred to Kanpur after initial treatment because of the seriousness of his condition.
Police, however, have rejected allegations of custodial violence.
Hamirpur Additional Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar Verma acknowledged that officers had initially detained another man named Shivraj instead of the person against whom a warrant had been issued.
According to Verma, police realised the mistake while verifying the detainee's identity at the station and found that his father's name did not match that of the wanted accused.
The officer claimed that after learning he had been brought to the station by mistake, the youth became agitated and injured himself.
"He started creating a ruckus and began striking himself against the window, sustaining injuries in the process," Verma said.
Police also claimed that the detained youth has several criminal cases registered against him.
Verma said Shivraj's allegations against police personnel were being examined and that CCTV footage from the police station was being scrutinised.
"An impartial and transparent investigation is being conducted at a high level, including examination of CCTV footage. Whatever facts emerge during the investigation, strict action will be taken in accordance with the rules," he said.
The conflicting accounts have sparked controversy in Hamirpur, with the victim's family alleging that an innocent man was picked up and beaten, and police maintaining that no assault took place. The inquiry and CCTV footage are expected to determine how Shivraj sustained his injuries.
