Doctors amputated the testicle of a young man in Paris last week who got clubbed in the groin by a police officer during demonstrations, the daily French newspaper Liberation quoted him as saying in an article published on Sunday.
The 26-year-old victim, identified as an engineer, said that he was knocked to the ground, allegedly by an officer, while taking photos during a confrontation between some demonstrators and police. Another officer charged at him and quickly planted his club in the man’s groin.
Images and footage of the incident have been doing rounds on social media.
The incident happened when the 'mostly peaceful march' attended by thousands of people opposing the government's plan to raise the age of retirement witnessed a surge of violence.
His lawyer, Lucie Simon, on behalf of her client, said that she will be filing a complaint. “Voluntary violence that led to mutilation by a person vested with public authority. It was such a strong blow that he had to have a testicle amputated,” she said.
“This is not a case of self-defence or necessity. The proof is in the images we have and the fact that he was then not arrested. He is still in shock and keeps asking why,” she added.
In response to mounting concern over what looked to be a case of excessive force by French police, Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez ordered an investigation into the specific circumstances of the event.
"So that this stops, because I’m not the first person to be subjected to violence by police,” the victim said while explaining the reason he is suing for.
Excessive use of force complaints has long plagued French law enforcement organisations. According to police unions, some of the personnel who are supposed to be protecting the people are often a victim of violence at the hands of those people only.