The families of Balaghat cops have submitted a memorandum to the IG seeking protection.
The families of seven police officers of Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, who were suspended for allegedly beating up an activist of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh last month, have written to the police seeking protection from the group, which is the ideological mentor of the BJP.
"Not Naxals, but the RSS is a threat to us," their memorandum read.
The policemen - including a senior officer -- had been charged with attempting to murder RSS activist Suresh Yadav by the state's BJP government. Also two senior officers - the Inspector General and the Superintendent of Police -- were transferred. This issue has now led to a political battle in the state.
The officers went missing after the police case against them was filed and now their families say they live in fear.
"A police official cannot say much against the government but their families can. Let's see if the government does justice. We have submitted a memorandum to the IG seeking protection," said Rekha Vijaywar, wife of suspended officer Suresh Vijaywar.
"The issue is being investigated by our headquarters. I have not seen the memorandum in detail but we will send it to SIT (Special Investigation Team)," said G Janardan, a senior officer of the local police. The state government had formed the Special Investigation Team on September 29 to investigate the matter.
What has given fresh impetus to the controversy is a video that surfaced recently. It shows Suresh Yadav walking around in the hospital, substantiating police claims that he had not sustained any major injury during custody.
Suresh Yadav had claimed that he was severely thrashed in police custody in September, while he was being interrogated for allegedly posting inflammatory comments in a WhatsApp group. He was admitted to the ICU in a private hospital for a week.
State home minister Bhupendra Singh told NDTV that he was not aware of the video clip, but "he (the RSS worker) was severely injured when I met him". The government, he insisted, took strong steps but not because the victim belonged to RSS. "Had it happened to a common man we would have done the same," he added.
State Congress spokesperson Pankaj Chaturvedi said it was "bizarre" that the government first took action against the police officers and then formed an SIT.
"Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan should decide who runs Madhya Pradesh -- the state government or the RSS. Because if police works under pressure from RSS then it is better that the police sit at home," he added.