A police inspector in India’s Haryana’s Palwal city has been arrested following an inquiry into allegations of custodial torture, news outlets reported. Radheshyam Sharma was suspended and taken into custody after a departmental investigation confirmed he assaulted Abid, a Muslim man from Rajasthan’s Kota district, in December 2024.
Abid alleged that after a pay dispute with an employer, police took him into custody where Sharma severely beat him and subjected him to degrading treatment. The inquiry, based on CCTV footage and medical evidence, substantiated the claims.
Sharma, formerly with the Special Cow Protection Task Force in Nuh district, faces similar past allegations, including assaulting cybercrime suspects. His arrest has sparked threats of protests from far-right Hindu groups, including the Bajrang Dal, who claim political motives behind the action. Local MLA Aftab Ahmed denied political interference, calling Sharma a repeat offender.
