Hindraf: Arrest brutal cops or else

The Hindu rights group says it will conduct a citizen’s arrest of the Perak and Ipoh police chiefs if they fail to act against policemen who it claims are guilty of assault.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf Makkal Sakthi has threatened to carry out a citizen’s arrest of the Perak and Ipoh police chiefs if they refuse to detain the policemen who allegedly assaulted its national secretary, P Ramesh, yesterday.

Ramesh said in a press statement today that Perak police chief Mohd Shukri Dahlan and Ipoh OCPD Azisman Abdullah would be abetting in a crime if they failed to take action on the alleged assault during a street demonstration outside the state assembly building in Ipoh.

“If they do not act on this, then Hindraf will arrest Shukri and Azisman instead under Section 27 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows for citizen’s arrests,” he said.

Yesterday, Ipoh police arrested 14 people, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar, during a peaceful demonstration outside the state assembly building in Ipoh.

The protesters had gathered there to highlight the plight of Kampung Dewan Bandaraya Ipoh villagers, who have been waiting for more than 10 years for their land titles.

In the meelee, Ramesh said, several policemen assaulted him. He vomited and could not stand on his legs, he added (see photo).

He was rushed to the Ipoh general hospital.

Ramesh also claimed that the hospital’s personnel, under instruction from the police, did not give him proper medical attention.

“The hospital did a CT scan on me only after my wife insisted on it,” he said.

“And though I was feeling pain in my lower back, the hospital refused to conduct an MRI scan in the area.”

Ramesh also demanded that the hospital give him a medical report within 24 hours so that he could get a second opinion on his condition. He alleged that the hospital yesterday refused to furnish him with it.

“If they fail to heed my request, I shall assume that the hospital is colluding with the police to cover up the assault I suffered,” he said.