Kin allege cops beat vendor to death

A 40-year-old fish vendor was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Damu Nagar in Kandivali east on Wednesday night. The vendor was identified as Uttam Khairapur and his family members alleged he died after a few policemen thrashed him for sitting on the road and consuming liquor. The Samata Nagar police, however, suspect the vendor was a TB patient and died after collapsing.

The police is awaiting the autopsy report to confirm the cause of death.

According to the police, on Wednesday around 7 pm, Uttam was consuming liquor inside an auto rickshaw along with two of his friends in Damu Nagar when he suddenly collapsed on road. He was taken to a hospital but was declared brought dead.

However, refuting the police version, Uttam’s brother Bharat said, “While Uttam was consuming liquor on the road, a few policemen arrived and started beating him with sticks. He sustained head injuries and died on spot. Following this, the policemen rushed him to hospital where doctors declared him brought dead.”