New Delhi: Four Gujarat policemen accused of flouting norms meant to be followed during arrests told the Gujarat high court that hitting people on their buttocks does not amount to custodial torture.The policemen in question were accused of publicly flogging three Muslim men by tying them to a pole following their arrest on October 4 last year. The arrested had been accused of pelting stones at a garba event during the Navaratri festival the previous day in Undhela village in the state’s Kheda district. Last week when the issue reached the court, it framed charges against the errant police officers for contempt of court for violating the Supreme Court guidelines in the D.K. Basu vs the State of West Bengal case. The particular case laid down the rules for the police’s conduct during arrests and detentions.According to the Hindustan Times, one of the policemen told the court, “Giving three to six stick blows on buttocks of applicants… though not proper and acceptable, it would not constitute custodial torture as to punish Respondent No 2 (A.V. Parmar) for contempt of court.”Along with Parmar, who is an inspector, D.B. Kumavat (sub-inspector), K.L. Dabhi (head constable), and Raju Dabhi (constable), accused in the case, urged the court to allow them to pay compensation to the victims in lieu of charges framed against them.The policemen’s counsel, Prakash Jani, also told the court that pronouncing them guilty and awarding them punishment would adversely affect their professional records given that they had already “dedicated” 10-15 years to serve in the police department.The court after hearing the submissions of the policemen sought a response from the Muslim men who brought the matter to the court. The next hearing in the case will be on October 16.On October 3, 2022, in the Undhela village in Kheda district, a dispute broke out between the members of the local Hindu and Muslim communities as the latter objected to a garba event being held near a mosque. The argument led to a violent clash and seven people were reportedly injured.A first information report (FIR) of the case alleged that “around 150 people” from the Muslim group attacked the planned garba venue late at night by allegedly pelting stones, injuring some policemen. Thereafter, the police arrested 13 men in the case.The following day videos began making the rounds on social media showing police officers, later identified as being from the crime branch, tying the alleged attackers in the October 3 violence to a poll and beating them with sticks, in full public view and amid cheers from the onlooking crowd.With videos on social media sparking massive outrage, senior police officials ordered an inquiry into the incident and against the policemen involved. Inspector A.V. Parmar and sub-inspector D.B. Kumavat were identified from the clip.Victims Jahirmiya Malek (62), Maksudabanu Malek (45), Sahadmiya Malek (23), Sakilmiya Malek (24) and Shahidraja Malek (25) moved a petition before the Gujarat high court against 15 police personnel – the inspector general (IG), the superintendent of police (SP), Kheda; 10 constables from the Matar police station; and three officers from the local crime branch (LCB).They cited D.K. Basu versus the State of West Bengal case – where the top court laid down basic “requirements” for the police to follow during arrest and detention until legal provisions are made – accusing the policemen of flouting norms. They urged the court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against the policemen and also sought compensation be paid to them.