I moved police after someone I had a feud with behaved inappropriately with women family members. I did as expected. We did not hear back. Weeks elapsed. No probe was conducted.

My brothers and I then proceeded to the police station. We failed to elicit a response from an IO on progress registered. Pressed for an answer, he started hurling obscenities at my mother and sisters. I told him to leave them out of it.

That is when he lost his temper and lunged at me. The ordeal commenced with slaps. Two policemen then threw me in lockup. My brothers watched helplessly as they beat me senseless with guns and batons.

They knew exactly what they were doing, each blow striking the very spot as the last. They knew how to make it hurt. I begged forgiveness. I had done nothing but I thought this would make them stop. It did not.

I was let go only after an influential acquaintance interceded. My knee bone was displaced. I am still unable to move freely.

My neighbours mock me. They say I was ‘humiliated’. I think terrified down to my bones would be a more apt description. Even that would not make the shame any easier to live with.

I am at a loss. I do not know who to approach. Who does one turn to when you need protection from the ones tasked with ensuring your security?