Patna: A prisoner undertrial in Bihar in a robbery case has alleged that he was tortured and petrol was poured on his private parts, prompting the authorities to order an investigation into the matter. The victim is currently undergoing treatment in hospital.

The incident has been reported from Gaya, a southern Bihar’s district some 100km from Patna.

The victim, Mantu Yadav, was caught by the Gaya district police in August last in connection with the theft of Rs8 million (Dh458,051) from a financial company. Subsequently, he was sent to jail after interrogation.

Reports said earlier this month, he was taken on remand for extensive interrogation as the police failed to crack the robbery case. The alleged police torture came to light after he was admitted to a local government hospital in a critical condition last Sunday.

“The police asked me about my involvement in the case. Once I replied in the negative, they went on assaulting me mercilessly and also hit my private parts. They also poured petrol on my private parts,” the victim alleged speaking to the media today.

Taking the matter seriously, the authorities have ordered an investigation. “I have been informed about the torture of an under-trial prisoner during the police remand. I have ordered an investigation into the matter and action will be taken against guilty cops after we get the probe report,” a senior police official, Garima Mallick, told media on Sunday.

This is the second time in recent past that such torture of prisoners has been reported. Earlier, a convict lodged in Purnia jail in Bihar was burnt with cigarette butts and his private parts wounded with razor blades after he had failed to pay bribes as demanded by the jail authorities to stall his transfer to other jail.

The incident had taken place in January 2017, prompting chief minister Nitish Kumar to initiate action against the guilty officers. The story came to light after the victim Arun Das, who was serving an eight-year jail term in a narcotics case, showed his burn marks to the judge during a hearing.

The judge, Abdur Rehman, was so shocked to see his condition that he asked the authorities to move him to a hospital for better treatment, apart from ordering an investigation.