Pulled teeth with pliers, stones: Ambasamudram cop now faces SHRC probe

CHENNAI: Trouble mounted for the young IPS officer who is facing serious charges of custodial torture, including pulling teeth and crushing testicles, after the State Human Rights Commission took suo motu cognisance of the allegations and ordered the IG-rank official heading its own investigation wing to probe the matter.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Balveer Singh, an IIT-Bombay alumnus who is part of the 2020 batch of the IPS, has already been placed under vacancy reserve, while Tirunelveli Collector KP Karthikeyan has ordered an inquiry by the sub-divisional magistrate-cum-sub-collector of Cheranmahadevi.

According to one person who complained against the officer, Singh filled his mouth with gravel before beating him up, which cracked his teeth and injured his lips. Singh is also accused of pulling the teeth of about 10 suspects who were taken into custody. These people were detained for alleged involvement in cases including clash over love affair, money lending, marital dispute, damaging CCTV cameras, etc.

The issue came to light after some of the suspects who allegedly faced brutal torture by the officer came forward to reveal their ordeal. A video of a torture victim went viral. While the Collector ordered probe, Head of State Police Force DGP C Sylendra Babu issued orders to relieved him from his posting and placed him on compulsory wait.

After the media took up the matter and reported it, the State Human Rights Commission chairman Justice K Baskaran directed the Inspector General of Police who heads the panel’s investigation wing to inquire and submit a report within six weeks.

A graduate from IIT-Bombay, 39-year old Singh is a native of Rajasthan, and has been serving in Ambasamudram police sub-division in Tirunelveli District since October 2022.