Kheda: The Gujarat Highcourt on Wednesday asked cops who were allegedly involved in public flogging to appear in the court for the next hearing. It also asked the state government and Police administration to submit an affidavit by January 30. 

The court was hearing the plea against 13 cops allegedly involved in the Public flogging of several men in Undhela village in Kheda over purported stone pelting on a Garba event in October last year.

The Bench of Justice N. V. Anjaria and Justice Niral R. Mehta asked the state’s lawyer to convey to the cops (private respondents) that “if they want to represent themselves in the contempt plea in a private capacity, they must appear, also engage an advocate if they want to, otherwise on the next day we will proceed in accordance with the law.”

Five of the people who were beaten and videotaped filed a petition, demanding action against the 13 policemen allegedly involved. The Petitioners council submitted that this act violated the Supreme Court’s order in the D K Basu case, which provides guidelines for treating a person in police custody. DeshGujarat