Two tribal youths in rebel-hit West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand have petitioned the state director-general of police, home secretary, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the district deputy commissioner, accusing the CRPF and local police of illegal detention, assault and torture.

Turam Bahanda and Vijay Bahanda, natives of Patatorob village under Tonto police station, have accused the CRPF of picking them up and illegally detaining them in the police station for 12 days without any case. They alleged that they were falsely accused of planting IEDs (improvised explosive devices) for Maoists, physically and mentally tortured and not presented in court.

West Singhbhum district has witnessed several IED blasts this year, causing the death of more than seven civilians and injuries to over a dozen security personnel.

The plight of the two tribal youths was brought to the fore by Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, which tweeted their letter dated April 25 on Friday.

The mahasabha is a coalition of organisations formed to defend people’s rights and democratic values in Jharkhand.

The letter written by Turam informs that both the youths were picked up from their houses by a posse of CRPF jawans around 7pm on February 6 and taken to the nearby CRPF camp. The jawans accused them of being Maoist supporters and planting bombs.

"When I expressed ignorance about any involvement in Maoist activities and planting bombs, they threatened to beat me up and pour petrol on me,” the letter informs.

“When the villagers reached the camp the next day and sought information about our detention, the CRPF assured them of releasing us after interrogation at night. But we were not released. They took us to Mufassil thana and to the West Singhbhum superintendent of police's (SP) office at 9pm, all the while accusing me of planting bombs,” the letter states.

"When I said I didn't know anything about the bombs, they started beating me with lathis on my right hand and left knee (at the SP's office). They handcuffed me and again took me to Chaibasa Mufassil thana. I was given food once in the morning and once at night and kept there for 12 days. They released me on February 18 at around 3pm after making me sign an application,” the letter informs.

The letter urges the authorities to take action against the guilty CRPF and police personnel for illegal detention and mental and physical torture and demands suitable compensation.