Karnataka: Commando of anti-Maoist CoBRA unit chained at police station after he was caught without mask

The anti-Maoist CoBRA unit commando was allegedly chained up at a police station in Karnataka as he was caught without a mask in violation of Covid-19 precautions. The commando, who was on leave at his hometown Belagavi, claims he was theashed, handcuffed and made to sit on the floor.

The Commando Battalion for Resolute Action unit (CoBRA) under Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) is trained in guerilla warfare and is generally enmeshed in anti-Maoist operations.

Picture of the commando tied in chains and sitting on the floor at what is supposed to be a police station are in circulation on the internet.

The CRPF has contacted the Karnataka Police chief, Praveen Sood, that the "unpleasant situation could have been avoided had the state police taken the CRPF hierarchy into confidence" ahead of arresting commando Sachin Savant on 23rd April.

As stated by a senior officer qouted by PTI, The CRPF is in view of "a counter FIR against the atrocious action of the police".

In its letter, the CRPF stated that the commando was "manhandled, ill-treated, paraded to the police station barefooted, kept in chains and handcuffs" by policemen.

"Suddenly Sachin argued with the beat constables in filthy language and said, I am also a policeman of the CRPF. You don't ask me I will never follow your rules," the police have noted.

According to the letter, when the constables requested the commando, he assaulted both of them with his arms and legs and blocked those on duty. He was taken into custody and is in judicial custody, said police in the letter, along with the FIR.

As stated by the CRPF, the jawan had told the police he was not wearing a mask because he was just outside his house.

"We have taken up the case with state police chief of Karnataka. His (Savant) bail plea is coming before the court on Tuesday and the CRPF too shall be in court through its local officers. A case investigation shall be followed up to take it to the logical conclusion," CRPF spokesperson Moses Dhinakaran told PTI.

The CRPF states that in the clip, "it is apparent that the conduct of police personnel was not citizen centric." The letter requests the police chief to "provide justice to the jawan keeping the gravity of the incident and its impact on the relationship between the two forces."

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