Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh:
In a shocking incident, police in Guntakal town in Andhra Pradesh allegedly thrashed, in full public view, four suspects arrested for murder to "counsel" them.
The footage of the incident, which reportedly occurred on Saturday, was telecast on Sunday by local news channels.
Police picked up one Sekhar for allegedly murdering his father-in-law Mallaiah (65), along with his accomplices Somu, Peddanna alias Peddi and Hussain, on November 27 at Old Bus Stand in the town.
They took all the four suspects to the place of the crime on Saturday. As per the footage aired by news channels, the four were seen kneeling down with their hands folded and police officers, including DSP Supraja, Inspector Sreenivasulu, and Sub-Inspector Ismail, hit them repeatedly with sticks. A policeman was also seen slapping the four.
The footage showed the police personnel asking Sekhar's wife as well as Malliah's daughter to slap him for the alleged crime.
Shockingly, scores of onlookers jeered the four and cheered police. Some of them recorded the incident on their mobile phones.
When contacted for her reaction on the incident, the DSP refused to comment, saying she was busy.
Sources said local police had held a similar "counselling" few weeks ago.