Woman cop punches, kicks visually impaired man, hits him with stick; suspended

A woman police sub-inspector in Ahmedabad was suspended on Thursday after she allegedly kicked, punched and hit a 57-year-old visually impaired man with a stick inside a police station. The incident prompted the man, Gopalbhai Darji, to file an FIR against her, despite repeated apologies from the cop after she realised her mistake.

According to police and the man's account, the incident occurred on June 1 and stemmed from a dispute involving a child who allegedly tried to take a packet of wafers from Gopalbhai's roadside shop without paying. Gopalbhai, who runs the shop and has a disability and poor eyesight, caught hold of the child after hearing the packet being opened, resulting in minor injuries to the boy.

The child later informed his father, who allegedly confronted Gopalbhai and invoked the name of his wife, PSI Sonal Rathod. The matter eventually reached Gujarat University Police Station, where Gopalbhai was taken for questioning.

Gopalbhai alleged that after being made to sit at the police station for several hours, Rathod arrived and began abusing him before physically assaulting him. He claimed the officer kicked and punched him repeatedly and continued the assault with a stick even after he fell to the ground, leaving him with a bruised eye. Officers attempted to stop her but to no avail, said Assistant Commissioner of Police HM Kansagra.

The man later sought medical treatment for his injuries and narrated his ordeal publicly. As the allegations gained traction on social media, demands grew for action against the police officer.

Police officials said Rathod subsequently visited Gopalbhai's residence and attempted to apologise and settle the matter, but the man refused and decided to pursue legal action.

ACP Kansagra said an FIR had been registered against Rathod at Gujarat University Police Station on the complaint of Gopalbhai. He said action would also be taken under provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.

He also said Rathod had left her posting at Changodar Police Station without informing her superiors and travelled to Gujarat University Police Station, which falls under Ahmedabad City Police, where she allegedly assaulted the disabled man.

According to Kansagra, a constable intervened initially to stop Rathod from assaulting the man and Gujarat University Police Inspector SR Bawa later directed her to follow legal procedures rather than take the law into her own hands.

When the intervention didn't bear fruit, Inspector Bawa subsequently wrote to the Ahmedabad Rural Superintendent of Police, seeking action against Rathod. Four days after the incident, the officer was suspended and departmental proceedings were initiated against her.