Team TrickyScribe: Vaishali district in Bihar is once again reeling under the shadow of its law enforcement’s brutality with Hathsarganj and Barati having become synonymous with unchecked police high-handedness, with a fresh wave of outrage sparked by a chilling incident involving indiscriminate physical assault on women and children.
This isn’t an isolated case—Vaishali’s khaki-clad enforcers seem to thrive on fear, not justice, under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s administration.
From beating a man seeking whereabouts of his injured brother to storming homes and attacking defenseless women, the district police is writing a grim saga of abuse if power.
Barati’s Midnight Horror: Women, Children Attacked
Just as the Hathsarganj case simmered, Barati OP escalated the district’s infamy. Late at night, police allegedly stormed a village home, targeting women and a three-year-old child. According to victims, officers forcibly entered the residence, where no male family members were present, and unleashed a brutal assault.
Women were beaten with batons until one collapsed unconscious, their cries captured in harrowing videos that have since gone viral. Shockingly, the toddler was not spared, with reports of the child being struck in the chaos. The family alleges their mobile phones were seized to prevent recording, yet damning footage of the attack—showing police breaking doors and leaving victims with visible wounds—has fueled widespread outrage.
Official Excuses & Evasive Responses
When questioned, Barati SHO, Ashutosh Shukla, offered a vague justification, claiming the police action was in response to a disturbance caused by “some people” at a local doctor’s residence. He conspicuously avoided linking the assaulted women and children to the alleged troublemakers, leaving a gaping hole in his account.
The victims, however, tell a different story: they were asleep when police barged in, targeting them without provocation. This discrepancy raises serious questions about the police’s motives and accountability. The lack of clarity echoes the Hathsarganj case, where promises of investigation have yet to yield results, leaving victims like Pramod in limbo.
A Disturbing Pattern: Vaishali’s Police Under Fire
Vaishali’s law enforcement is no stranger to controversy. The Hathsarganj incident, where a man was beaten and extorted, is just one chapter in a growing book of abuses. The Barati assault, targeting women and a child, fits into this grim pattern, suggesting a systemic issue where officers act as predators rather than protectors.
The Broader Context: Bihar’s Policing Crisis
Bihar’s police force has long been criticized for its heavy-handed tactics. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau shows almost no convictions for custodial deaths, despite large numbers of cases reported.
In Vaishali, this lack of accountability emboldens officers to act with impunity, whether it’s extorting victims in Hathsarganj or storming homes in Barati. The Nirbhaya case of 2012, which galvanized India against gender-based violence, underscored the need for police reform—a call that remains unanswered in places like Vaishali.
A Call for Justice: Will Vaishali Act?
Hathsarganj and Barati incidents have ignited a firestorm of public anger, with videos of police brutality circulating widely. In Hathsarganj, victim’s family awaits justice as the promised investigation continues.
In Barati, the victims’ accounts and visible wounds demand immediate action, yet the station in-charge’s evasive response suggests business as usual.
The Road Ahead: Breaking the Cycle of Impunity
Vaishali’s police high-handedness is a microcosm of a national crisis. The lack of convictions for police abuses, as noted by the National Crime Records Bureau, perpetuates a culture where officers feel untouchable.
Reforms, such as mandatory body cameras, independent oversight, and gender sensitization training, are long overdue. The Nirbhaya case led to fast-track courts and stricter laws, but without cultural change within the police, such measures fall short.
Hathsarganj’s Shame: A Brother’s Beating Sets the Stage
Hathsarganj OP first grabbed headlines when a young man was summoned to check on his brother, a tractor driver injured in a road accident in Bagmali. Expecting compassion, he was met with barbarity. Officers allegedly beat him with sticks and batons, detained him, and extorted a hefty sum for his release.
Visuals of his bruised body circulated online, sparking public fury. The victim, still receiving treatment at the district hospital, lodged a complaint, prompting senior officials to promise an investigation. Yet, no action has materialized, signaling a troubling pattern of impunity that sets the stage for Vaishali’s latest scandal.
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