An injured man is in military custody at Lautoka hospital after being assaulted by police.

Rajneel Singh, 32, an internet cafe operator in Lautoka, claimed he was “tortured with a hot rod” and thrown into a pine forest between Nadi and Sigatoka.

Acting Police Commissioner Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho confirmed that Singh had called on him for help.

He said a team of Home Affairs investigators from Suva had been dispatched to Lautoka to investigate and report to him today.

Mr. Singh claimed that the police began to behave strangely after sending copies of plans to undermine the government to Brigadier General Qiliho and the Attorney General’s office. He alleged that he found the plans on his computer after the previous user forgot to log out.

Mr Singh said he met Brigadier-General Qiliho in Denarau when the acting commissioner visited Lautoka and discussed the alleged plans.

During the meeting, Brigadier-General Qiliho gave him his phone number.

Mr Singh said he was lucky to have the Acting Commissioner’s number otherwise he could have been left for dead.

He said he then called him and reported the case. He claimed the military picked him up and took him to hospital.

“Now they are guarding me to protect me,” he said.

Mr Singh said the acting commissioner tasked Western police with investigating after his initial report. He is married to a four month old boy

It is understood that Brigadier General Qiliho is concerned about the alleged brutality of the police.

This will be the first such case to come to him since his appointment.

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