Chennai: An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Balveer Singh who is accused of forcibly pulling out the teeth of two youths using iron pliers, has been shunted out of Thirunelveli district and placed under Vacancy Reserve (VR). The action follows an inquiry into the custodial torture.
Based on the inputs received from the South Zone IG Asra Garg, the Director General of Police C Sylendra Babu Monday issued orders transferring the ASP who was in charge of Ambasamudram to the VR. "Thiru Balveer Singh, IPS, Assistant Superintendent of Police Ambasamudram Sub Division, Tirunelveli District is brought to Chief Office VR with immediate effect," the orders read.
It said the South Zone IG will make alternative additional charge arrangements till another officer is posted to the concerned Sub Division. Sources said an internal inquiry into the incident too has been launched and further action, if any, will be taken based on the report.
Two fringe outfits — Nethaji Subhash Sena and Puratchi Bharatham Katchi — who have been raising the issue have stated that they would stage protests in Tirunelveli and Ambasamudram areas condemning the custodial torture inflicted upon these two youths. District Collector Karthikeyan has ordered a probe into the allegations levelled against Balveer Singh. Singh was posted to Ambasamudram on Oct. 15, 2022. A 2020 batch IPS officer, Singh is an alumnus of the prestigious IIT- Bombay.
According to a victim, the ASP came to the police station when they were picked up in a petty case. He was wearing handgloves. He put gravel into our mouth and gave us a sound thrashing. He broke my teeth using stones. My brother Mariappan recently got married. The ASP crushed his genitals. Now, he is lying down not even able to eat properly, the victim said.
Also read: Bengaluru Court puts stay on IPS D Roopa, others for making statements against IAS Sindhuri
Nethaji Subhash Sena functionary Advocate Maharajan said the ASP has assaulted several people in Ambasamudram Sub Division and pulling out teeth is what the official would prefer as his primary means of torture. Maharajan said one of the victims - Chellappa lost three teeth after the ASP pulled out the teeth when the policemen held him down to enable the torture. Singh himself pulled the tooth out using iron plier.
Maharajan accused that the ASP had been on teeth removal spree and there would be at least 40 persons affected by him in Ambasamudram. He wanted the IPS officer be arrested and dismissed from service. He has been infamous for his custodial tortures ever since he got posted at Ambasamudbram, the advocate charged.
