On Thursday, the Madhya Pradesh government took swift and decisive action following the viral release of a video showing a disturbing assault by Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel in the Katni district. The video, which depicts the brutal beating of a woman and her grandson, prompted Chief Minister Mohan Yadavji to suspend six GRP officers, including the charge station.
The video, which was shared by the Congress party, quickly gained traction on social media, leading to widespread outrage. Chief Minister Yadavji, reacting to the public outcry, ordered an immediate suspension of the GRP station in-charge, a head constable, and four constables. In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Yadavji addressed the issue, saying, “An old video of the GRP Katni police station cops beating up individuals has gone viral. After taking cognizance, I instructed the DIG Rail to investigate. Based on preliminary findings, I have ordered the immediate suspension of the GRP police station in-charge, a head constable, and four constables.”
The incident reportedly occurred in October of the previous year. Superintendent of Police (GRP) Simala Prasad explained that the video shows the aftermath of questioning family members of Deepak Vanshkar, a man with 19 registered cases against him who had been absconding and was subsequently extended from the district. The disturbing footage reveals the violent treatment of the woman and her grandson during this questioning.
The video caused significant public and political fallout. Initially, five GRP personnel were taken off field duty, and an internal investigation was launched to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and how the footage became public. Deputy Inspector General of Railways Monica Shukla arrived in Katni to oversee the investigation.
The footage depicts the GRP station in charge, along with other officers, assaulting the woman and her grandson in what appears to be a highly distressing and unprovoked manner. This incident has drawn severe criticism from various quarters, especially from the Congress party, which has accused the Madhya Pradesh government of enabling and tolerating police misconduct. In their statement on X, the Congress party questioned the Chief Minister’s leadership and the integrity of the police force. “Chief Minister Mohan Yadavji, what is happening in Madhya Pradesh? Under the pretext of maintaining law and order, your police department is indulging in hooliganism and is putting people’s lives at risk,” they said.
The Congress party also highlighted the caste identity of the victims, emphasizing that the brutality faced by the woman and her grandson was both “agonizing” and “shameful.” They criticized the Chief Minister for allegedly allowing such acts of violence by the police and demanded immediate accountability and reform.
In response to the gravity of the situation, Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Jitu Patwari and media department chairman Mukesh Nayak are scheduled to visit Katni to meet with the victims and their families. Their visit is expected to draw further attention to the case. Authorities have increased security in the town in anticipation of their arrival.
The public reaction to the video and the subsequent actions taken by the Madhya Pradesh government underscore the growing scrutiny of police conduct and the urgent need for reforms to ensure justice and accountability in law enforcement.
