Police in India have sparked controversy after publicly beating a man accused of killing his partner, with footage of the incident circulating widely online and drawing mixed reactions.
Public parading and physical abuse of suspects by police remain reported in parts of India despite Supreme Court rulings prohibiting such treatment.
Authorities said the beating was carried out in response to the alleged brutality of the crime. The suspect, identified by police as Faizal Lakhani, was arrested in Bhavnagar, Gujarat state.
Police reportedly took Lakhani to the alleged crime scene on Friday as part of a reconstruction of the incident. He was beaten during the exercise, while videos of the incident were subsequently shared across social media platforms.
In the footage, Lakhani is seen with his hands restrained by ropes as a uniformed police officer repeatedly strikes his legs and buttocks with a bamboo baton. He was also reportedly beaten on his feet inside a bus terminal.
Police officer D.P. Unadkat defended the action, saying the punishment was intended to send a strong warning against violence against women.
“We beat him to set an example that crime against women will be taken seriously and nobody else dares to commit such a crime,” Unadkat was quoted as saying by the Times of India.
“When we do this, they fear the police,” he added, according to the Indian Express.
The incident has generated divided reactions online. While some social media users praised the police for their handling of the case, others condemned the beating, arguing that the suspect had not been convicted of the alleged crime.
Bhavnagar police chief Nitesh Pandey declined to comment on the incident when contacted by AFP.
