Washim, 03 July

(HS): In a important verdict Washim District and Sessions Judge Jaysingh Zapate

on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to nine police personnel for custodial

death. The deceased was tortured in custody during interrogation. The verdict

came after a long 15 years, one month and 23 days of legal battle.

The police

personnel held guilty include Risod Police Station Incharge Madhav Manik Dhande

and other employees Madan Keshav Pawar, Shivaji Namdev Khillari, Panjab

Manikrao Patkar, Ramesh Sitaram Pawar, Prakash Hiralal Taaram, Nagorao Bhagwan

Khandke,Ashok Nivrutti Vaidya and Vasant Kaniram Jadhav.

The deceased Begya

Pawar, a member of Pardhi community was arrested during a raid on Pardhi

Locality in Wadhona in Sengaon Tehsil of Hingoli district on May 9, 2011. The raid

was carried out in connection with a theft. Begya was not involved in the theft

and had no criminal record. But the police mercilessly beat him forcing him to

accept him to the crime. Begya died in police custody on May 10, 2011 when he

was being transported to Washim.

The Forensic

Report recorded 44 injury marks due to beating in its post-mortem report.

The case was

handed over to CID for further investigation, which completed the investigation

and filed chargesheet on September 2011. An offence under section 302 of IPC

and Atrocities Act The court examined 47 witnesses in the case including Begya’s

mother, father, wife and other police personnel and also medical officers.

All the nine police

personnel were suspended and were reinstated after expiry of suspension period.

Four of the nine accused are still in service.

Offence against the police personnel was

proved and the court awarded them life imprisonment.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar