SURKHET, Dec 20: A student kept under custody for investigation has been critically injured after apparently being beaten by police and the prisoners of District Police Office (DPO), Surkhet.

Tej Soni, the twenty-four-year-old student of Biratnagar-based Shiddhapaila College who is originally from Athbis Municipality-5, has had his right hand broken and sustained several injuries to his body after the incident. On Monday morning, police had arrested Soni along with his friend Santosh Khadka suspecting them of being involved in attacking YCL secretariat member Govinda Pratap Malla, a week ago. 

Soni, who has been admitted to District Hospital, Surkhet for surgery of his hand said, "After entering the prison, a group of 10-12 prisoners started attacking us." Khadka has also sustained minor injuries.

They were released an hour later. In recent days, police custody of Surkhet has been really torturous as per the detainees. Some time ago, the regional office of National Human Rights Commission had conducted an inspection where it was revealed that not just the criminals but the accused too are tortured in Surkhet prison. 

According to District Police Office, Soni and Khadka were injured after being beaten by the prisoners. "We had kept them in the prison and they had a dispute with the prisoners which resulted in a serious clash," said Dhruba Thapa, in charge of the District Police Office (DPO), Surkhet, adding, “Police are not involved in the incident." 

However, Soni has been claiming that even police officers had joined the prisoners while beating them.

 
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