23-year-old thrashed by five cops for playing cricket

Police officials are meant to enforce the law by safeguarding citizenrsquos rights but the brutality with they went about implementing it has left a family in Hadapasar traumatised after cops allegedly thrashed their 23yearold son for playing cricket late at nightTraumatised Aarav Varma sustained hand and neck injuries after cops brutally thrashed him in the wee hours of TuesdayFollowing the incident the family has approached the commissionerrsquos office and lodged a complaint demanding stringent action against the copsThe incident took place at Hadapsar Gaon when policemen in a patrolling van saw a group of youngsters playing cricket in a lane at Gandhi Chowk at 130 am on TuesdayCopy of the complaint lodged at the commissionerrsquos office PicMohan PatilayAccording to the victim Aarav Ashish Ramvilas Varma five cops mdash 4 constables and 1 police subinspector mdash approached them and asked them why they were out so lateNot newldquoKids and youths from our area play cricket at Gandhi Chowk till late every night Even the elders from the nearby building societies are out chatting late into the night On that night there were about fifteen of us playing cricket Just as we were wrapping up our game a police patrolling van happened to pass by I was picking up my bat and stumps when five cops came to me and asked me what I was doing out so late I told them I was just playing But they held my collar and asked me for my identity card I showed it to them PSI Madhusudan Madne however started slapping me When I resisted he banged my head to their jeep I started feeling dizzy and could not even standrdquo said AaravlsquoVerify my addressrsquoAarav then requested the cops to accompany him to his house which is in the vicinity so that they could verify he is a resident of the area ldquoI took them to my house so that they could talk to my father who is a respected figure in our area But after reaching there the inspector started beating kicking and slapping me continuously The policemen also threatened to put me behind the bars and charge me with crimes like robbery and chain snatching which I never committedrdquo he saidHumiliatingMy father got worried and could not bear to see me getting beaten up So he intervened and requested the cops to stop I was brought to my house by these cops at 2 am and this humiliation continued till 4 am I was beaten up continuously for about 20 minutes and my family members were also abused and threatened It was very humiliating as my entire family including my 5yearold nephew watched me getting beaten up for no fault of minerdquo he saidAarav said his father owns Nandlal Jewelers Shimpi Aali in Hadapsar and is a member of Pune Jewellers AssociationAaravrsquos brother Digen said ldquoOur family is embarrassed and annoyed due to this incident We cannot believe that cops can use their power to threaten rather than protect citizens Just because my brother spoke out against them holding his collar they cannot put him in the hospital It was horrid to see the cops two of whom were drunk beating and abusing my brotherrdquoSetting an exampleldquoCitizens undergo similar trauma on several occasions but fear taking action against police officials But we need this to change Hence we got my brother treated at the governmentrun Sassoon Hospital as we require the medical papers from there to lodge a complaint After filing a complaint yesterday at the police commissionerrsquos office we are hoping for positive action We want the cop to be reprimanded for his highhandedness so that other police officers think twice before indulging in something like thisrdquo added Digen