# Meerut police assault allegations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/meerut-police-assault-allegations
> Updated: 2026-08-21T11:13:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

Police leaders in Meerut, India, face allegations of physical assault and torture following a meeting regarding a protest over the Lalita Gautam murder case. Digvijay Singh Bhati, President of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BR Ambedkar), and Mohit Jatav, a Samajwadi Party leader, allege they were subjected to “third-degree torture,” verbal abuse, and physical violence by former Meerut Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avinash Pandey and other officers.

Bhati reported sustaining a severe eye injury and claimed that after being taken to the Special Operations Group (SOG) office, he was beaten while restrained. Jatav alleged he was assaulted and held in custody for 12 hours, claiming the leaders were humiliated by being forced to dance while incapacitated.

In response to the allegations, several police actions have been taken. Avinash Pandey was transferred to the state police headquarters in Lucknow, and eight other officers, including the Civil Lines Station House Officer, were transferred to the police lines. Following the appointment of new SSP BBGTS Murthy, Inspector Akhilesh Kumar Gaur, the Civil Lines Station House Officer, was subsequently suspended for “negligence, indifference, and arbitrariness in his duties.”

An inquiry into the claims of “rudeness and assault” has been ordered, to be led by Abhishek Singh, the Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Saharanpur range. While the Meerut police have dismissed the allegations as “baseless and false,” political leaders from the Samajwadi Party and Congress have called for a high-level investigation into the alleged human rights violations.

## Claims

- Digvijay Singh Bhati and Mohit Jatav allege they were beaten and verbally abused by police during a meeting with SSP Avinash Pandey on August 19. (disputed by 3 sources)
- Meerut police have denied the allegations of physical assault made by the farmer leaders. (disputed)
- Bhati claims he suffered a serious eye injury during the alleged assault. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Eight police officers, including Inspector Akhilesh Kumar Gaur, have been transferred to the police lines pending investigation. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav demanded a thorough investigation and dismissal of guilty officers. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Inspector Akhilesh Kumar Gaur has been suspended for negligence, indifference, and arbitrariness in the discharge of his duties. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-21: Meerut police officials accused of assaulting Samajwadi Party leaders

Samajwadi Party leaders allege they were assaulted and humiliated by former Meerut SSP Avinash Pandey and police staff during a meeting. An official inquiry has been ordered following the leaders' transfer.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/meerut-police-officials-accused-of-assaulting-samajwadi-party-leaders

### 2026-08-21: Meerut police suspend inspector over farmer leader assault allegations

Meerut police have suspended Inspector Akhilesh Gaur and taken action against several officers following allegations of brutality and third-degree torture against farmer leader Digvijay Bhati.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/meerut-police-transfer-eight-officers-amid-farmer-leader-torture-allegations

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Cite as: Meerut police assault allegations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/meerut-police-assault-allegations