TV grab of Mannu Kumar after he was dragged at Kotwali police station on Saturday. Telegraph picture

Patna, July 4: Police have been sucked into a controversy for allegedly dragging a suspected eve-teaser with his hands tied, but residents of the state capital have sided with the men in uniform for teaching the Rogue Romeo a lesson.

The state police headquarters has asked the Patna force to carry out an inquiry into the allegation that what they did with 28-year-old Mannu Kumar was not within the ambit of the law.

Patna senior superintendent of police Alok Kumar tonight said that two officials had been suspended for the act. They are sub-inspector Ved Vyas Singh, who was the officer on duty, and Valmiki Prasad, a home guard jawan who was seen pulling Mannu by the rope. Departmental inquiry has been ordered against them, Kumar said.

Mannu, a resident of the Dakbungalow area under the Kotwali police station, is the son of Vijay Kumar Yadav, a well-known contractor in Patna said to have connections with the ruling JD(U). The family members could not be reached for comment.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday night, came to light only after some news channels flashed footage of the youth crying and pleading for help as he was being dragged within the Kotwali police station premises with his hands tied to his back.

Mannu, who, the police claim, was in an inebriated state, was caught by some people who beat him up for allegedly teasing girls at Mauryalok Complex.

“The people then handed him over to two policemen on duty at the complex who brought him to the police station. He was drunk and started misbehaving with the officers, saying he belonged to a high-profile family. He started throwing files also. While he was being taken to the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) for a medical test, he jumped off the police jeep and darted towards the police station again. He was turning abusive and violent and the police had to tie him up,” an officer said.

According to the police, Mannu lay down on the corridor of the police station and refused to budge. It was then that the officials tied him up and dragged him by the rope back to the jeep.

Police sources acknowledged that while strict action needs to be taken against eve-teasers, Mannu shouldn’t have been dragged and instead could have been lifted up forcibly.

With no one coming forward to lodge a formal complaint, the police themselves registered an FIR against the youth, booking him under at least five sections pertaining to eve-teasing, assaulting and misbehaving with policemen and trying to destroy government documents. Mannu was yesterday produced before the magistrate who sent him to jail.

Additional director-general of police (headquarters) Rajyavardhan Sharma said the deputy superintendent (law and order) Lalit Mohan Sharma had been asked to prepare a report.

“The police saw the footage on television and a probe has been ordered. The police version is that the youth was misbehaving with the officials and also tried to manhandle a few officers on duty,” Rajyavardhan Sharma said.

Patna residents said that while crime had gone down in the state capital, women continued to be vulnerable.

Joya, a resident of Machuatoli, defended the police. “Eve-teasers should be dealt with strictly by the police. It is a very serious problem in Patna. These rogues need to be taught a lesson,” she said.