Woman accused of theft stripped, beaten up in Gurugram police station

Gurugram: The detention of a domestic helper from Assam accused of theft and her subsequent torture and humiliation, during the interrogation has sent shockwaves in Gurugram. It is alleged that police officials not only forced her to strip but also beat her with belts that left her injured.

The incident came to light when the victim's family, who hail from Assam, and her friends protested outside the DLF Phase 1 police station.

Police Commissioner Muhammad Akil has ordered a probe after pictures of injury marks on the woman's body were shared with him. "I have suspended two police officers from the police station concerned, and two others have been sent to the police lines with immediate effect. Also, a departmental enquiry has been initiated against them. One of the suspended officials is an assistant sub-inspector, and the other is a constable," the commissioner told Millennium Post.

The police said the woman, who works in Block H of DLF Phase 1, was called to the police station on Tuesday along with two other domestic helpers working in the same house after her employer filed a complaint of theft of cash and jewellery and ruled out the role of an outsider. A case of theft was subsequently registered on Tuesday, the police said. The police said all three suspects were called to the police station for questioning.

"The woman was taken inside a room and subjected to third-degree torture. She had multiple injury marks. The police officers had called her husband and asked him to bring her again when required for further questioning. After going home, the woman clicked pictures and shared them with her friends following which they approached senior police officers," Akil said.

According to her family, the woman was tortured and forced to confess to the crime. She is currently admitted in a hospital.

This is not the first time when reports of excesses by the Haryana Police have come to light. In May, two head constables were suspended, and three Special Police Officers (SPOs) from Faridabad were dismissed after a video showing them beating up a woman with a belt during interrogation went viral.