Wed Jul 02 20:10:00 UTC 2025: ## News Article: Police Officer Suspended After Assaulting E-Rickshaw Driver in Bihar

**PATNA – July 3, 2025** – A Station House Officer (SHO) in Sheikhpura district, Bihar, has been suspended after a video surfaced showing him assaulting an e-rickshaw driver. The incident, which allegedly included casteist remarks and forcing the victim to lick his own spit, sparked outrage and prompted swift action from authorities.

Pradyuman Kumar, the e-rickshaw driver, alleges that SHO Praveen Chandra Diwakar, stopped him on June 30th after Kumar was unable to give way to the officer’s motorcycle quickly enough. Kumar claims Diwakar, dressed in civilian clothes, verbally abused him and later summoned a police jeep. He alleges the SHO then beat him with a stick at the police station, demanded to know his caste, and forced him to spit on the ground and lick it up. Kumar is currently hospitalized for treatment.

Following the incident, Kumar’s family sought the intervention of local Barbigha MLA Sudharshan Kumar, who condemned the officer’s behavior and urged Sheikhpura Superintendent of Police (SP) Baliram Kumar Choudhary to take action.

While police investigations have denied the allegations of casteist slurs and forced spitting, they confirmed that the beating took place. “A serious allegation was made against Mehus SHO of beating a person, Pradyuman Kumar,” said Sheikhpura ASP Rakesh Kumar. “We investigated the matter and found the incident to be true. The police officer’s acts are not acceptable. I found him guilty. So, he has been suspended with immediate effect.”

Authorities have indicated that a formal complaint from the victim’s family will trigger further disciplinary action. The investigation remains ongoing.

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