They didn’t pour acid into his eyes as they had done almost three decades ago earning for Bhagalpur a national benchmark for police brutality. But a three-minute video clip of policemen, once again in Bhagalpur, joining a lynch mob to chain 20-year-old Salim Ilyas to a motorcycle and drag him until the chain snapped has shocked a state long inured to such terror.

The incident took place on Monday morning in the Nathnagar area of Bhagalpur and was recorded by a stringer of PTN, a state-based TV news service. The footage was played across all national TV networks today.

The state government has swiftly suspended Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) L B Singh and Constable Ramchandra Rai and ordered a probe. “The policemen will be punished. We are also trying to identify people in the crowd who took the law in their hands, they too will face legal action,” claimed Home Commissioner Afzal Amanullah.

Salim Ilyas alias Aurangzeb was severely assaulted by a mob after allegedly “snatching” a gold chain from a woman. A crowd tied his hands and legs and began to beat him up. Two policemen ASI Singh and constable Rai arrived on the spot riding a motorcycle. By then, Ilyas was lying helpless as the crowd continued the assault. Instead of rescuing him from the lynch mob, Rai caught Salim, abused him and rained lathis while the mob egged him on.

The video showed the policemen chaining Ilyas to Singh’s motorcycle. Sitting on the bike, Singh is clearly heard saying, “Baandho saale ko,” even as Ilyas screams for help.

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