Jharkhand student handcuffed on campus sparks outrage over police conduct

An 18-year-old engineering student from Jharkhand’s Chaibasa was escorted to his college in handcuffs to fill out his examination form — days after being arrested during a tribal protest — triggering accusations of “public humiliation” and a fresh debate over the limits of police procedure.

The student, one of several tribal youths arrested on October 27 during a demonstration demanding strict enforcement of a “no-entry” rule for mining trucks along a locally notorious accident-prone stretch, was taken from judicial custody to Chaibasa Engineering College earlier this month. Photographs from inside the campus show him being led by uniformed personnel, hands bound.

His family alleges the police violated an oral instruction from the magistrate who, they say, had specifically asked officers not to handcuff the teenager during the college visit.

“We had requested the magistrate, and he told the police not to handcuff him. They agreed in front of us,” the student’s elder sister said. “But when the day came, they still took him in handcuffs. It has deeply affected him. He refuses to go to the hospital now, saying people will see him as a criminal.”

Police, however, insist they followed the rulebook. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Bahman Tuti said handcuffing is permissible when transporting someone in judicial custody if there is “possibility of escape” and no written court order explicitly prohibits it. “Oral directions cannot be acted upon,” he said. “The responsibility lies with the escorting officers — an escape can cost them their jobs.”

West Singhbhum SP Amit Renu echoed this, saying the force had adhered to due process and adding that “necessary action” would be taken if any unlawful conduct is proven. He also underscored the seriousness of the case, noting the allegations of stone-pelting and injuries to personnel during the protest.

The family maintains that the treatment went far beyond procedure, amounting to a deliberate humiliation of a young first-year student. They want both the district police and the jail administration held accountable.

College officials, too, expressed concern. A senior official said institutions typically receive formal communication when custodial students are allowed to complete exam-related procedures. This time, no intimation was sent. When staff asked the police team for documents explaining the custody and protocol, they were allegedly refused.

“In earlier cases, students in custody were brought with police escort but not handcuffed inside the exam hall,” the official said. “Personally, I believe he should not have been brought in handcuffs. But without a court order, we cannot dictate police procedure.”

As the controversy widens, the incident has reignited questions around the balance between security protocols and the dignity of undertrials — especially young students whose futures can be reshaped by a moment of public exposure.