Gujarat murder accused tied with ropes, flogged in public by police; SHO says ‘rare case’

The 20-year-old homeless man, Faizal alias Khatki Rafiq Lakhani, was arrested in a murder case on September 4 for allegedly killing his partner, Kajal, a 40-year-old woman. On September 5, police in Bhavnagar allegedly flogged Lakhani in public after his arrest, tying him with ropes and beating him with batons. Lakhani was reportedly a habitual nuisance, with six other criminal cases against him, including abduction and assaulting police officers.

Police Inspector D P Unadkat defended the public flogging, stating that it was done to instill fear in miscreants who engaged in small crimes and were often let off on bail. The incident has sparked outrage, with the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) sending a legal notice to the Chief Secretary and Bhavnagar SP demanding action against Inspector Unadkat and other police personnel involved.

The incident also raised questions about the proper use of force by police and the potential violation of constitutional protections for the accused.