Bhopal gas victims and their family members on Thursday alleged that police beat up, stripped and illegally detained those arrested for rail blockade here earlier this month. However, the authorities have denied the charges.
At a press meet here by five organisers of the rail roko agitation on December 3 to mark the 27th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, the people also alleged that the 14 arrested were not told about their charges, nor given food or access to their lawyers and families.
"My father, grandfather and myself fought for the freedom of country to bring democracy, but this government has ended democratic rule," said Mufti Abdul Razzak, whose relative is among those held.
Satinath Sarangi of Bhopal Group for Action and Information said: "Among the 14 arrested, six were not even present on the spot."
Activists also alleged that women demonstartors were beaten up and cases have been slapped against an 80-year-old woman Rampyari Bai and others.
While District Collector Nikunj Srivastava could not be contacted for comment, Senior Superintendent of Police Yogesh Choudhary told: "We have kept some arrested persons with us for some more time for investigation, but it does not mean they were tortured. And whoever have been arrested, it has been on concrete evidence. Else, we would have arrested 500 people."
On registering a case against an elderly women, he said: "The case may have been registered but it is not necessary that they will be arrested."