Five days after DNA reported about a homosexual man being beaten up, allegedly by two railway policemen, an offence has been registered against the Government Railway Police constables.

Constables Ravi Medge and Sandeep Wagchoure, who are on the run, have been booked for assault, torture and detention.

On February 25, DNA highlighted the case of the 28-year-old employee of a pharmaceutical company who had been beaten up by the constables at Vasai Road station on December 22 for “indulging in homosexuality”. The duo allegedly extorted Rs25,000 from the man.

Besides, police inspector Praful Kshirsagar, who had been handling the investigation into the case has also been shunted to a “punishment posting” in the control room. Kshirsagar, the victim had alleged, had visited the room when the constables subjected him to torture.

The police action only confirms what DNA had found out from the guard of the automated teller machine where the two policemen had led the man to withdraw cash that evening. The guard had told DNA that “policemen had accompanied a man when he came to withdraw money”.

Despite the action against the men in uniform, the family of the victim said they feared for their safety since the two constables are absconding. “True that this development is indeed a welcome one but, at this point, we fear that anything we say could spell trouble for us,” said a relative.

@powerofyogesh