Jharkhand Tribal Woman Alleges Custodial Assault By Police In Latehar
· India · Hindustan Times, Indian Express
A 33-year-old tribal woman from Jharkhand's Latehar district has accused police personnel of brutal custodial assault, sexual harassment, and casteist slurs inside the Bariatu police station. A tribal rights group shared a video of the victim detailing the incident alongside her formal complaint on Thursday. According to the complaint, the woman was detained on October 5 while grazing goats, tied upside down, and forced to eat green chillies by officers including station officer-in-charge Prabhat Kumar Das. The victim alleged that police forced her to record a fabricated video statement claiming involvement in illegal poppy cultivation and stole ₹80,000 saved for a wedding from her home. Following mass outrage and intervention by the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, Chief Minister Hemant Soren directed authorities to investigate the matter. The Jharkhand Police have formed an internal investigation team, while human rights groups demand the immediate suspension and arrest of the accused
Why it matters
The allegations expose severe police misconduct and caste-based abuse within state law enforcement, triggering high-level government intervention and public outrage.
Read the original report — Hindustan Times
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