Bihar police beat NRI, father for overtaking vehicle

PATNA - An NRI businessman from Russia and his elderly father were allegedly beaten by policemen in Bihar’s Patna district for overtaking the vehicle of a probationer Indian Police Service (IPS) officer. A probe has been ordered, authorities said Tuesday.

Shajendra Bihari Singh, in his early 40s, was beaten Sunday after he overtook the car of IPS officer Vivek Kumar when he was on his way from Jehanabad to native Dharhara village in Punpun near Patna.

“I was beaten like a criminal by policemen. I was innocent and I did not violate law of the land, but police treated me like a criminal and beat me with bamboo sticks and hands,” Shajendra Singh, who owns a restaurant business in Russia, told IANS.

“My only crime was that I overtook vehicle of a police officer of Jehanabad. He was angered and stopped my vehicle few minutes later. He started abusing and beating me.”

He said the policemen thrashed his father Brijbihari Singh, who was with him. “Also, we were taken to Parsa Bazar police station and beaten again there,” he added.

The NRI, who displayed marks of injuries on his body, lodged a complaint but police refused to register a case. “Local police officers and Bihar’s top police officers whom I contacted for justice downplayed the incident. They discouraged me to raise voice against the injustice,” he said.

The Russia-based restauranteur then lodged a complaint at the chief judicial magistrate in Patna civil court Monday and petitioned the State Human Rights Commission for justice.

Additional Director General (police headquarters) P.K. Thakur said: “A probe has been ordered into the case. We have asked the DIG (deputy inspector general) to investigate into the case and submit a report within a week.”