Fifteen policemen at a police outpost in Kanpur district in Uttar Pradesh have been suspended after a young dalit man was found dead in custody.
Fifteen policemen at a police outpost in Kanpur district in Uttar Pradesh have been suspended after a young dalit man was found dead in custody.
One of the policemen has been charged with murder, while others are absconding after the incident.
According to reports, one Kamal Valmiki (25), was called in for questioning on Tuesday about a theft along with his brother Nirmal, who was later allowed to go home. Kamal was found hanging in lock-up on Thursday evening.
As soon as the news of his death in custody spread, a large number of protesters, led by his relatives, reached the police outpost and pelted stones. Some of them even opened fire at the cops.
Kamal’s brother Nirmal alleged on Friday that his brother died after severe beating. “We were kicked around like a football and the cops told us that either you confess or we will kill you,” he said.
Kamal was allegedly taken away by a constable named Valmiki, who now faces a murder case.
Meanwhile, what made the incident suspicious was the fact that the cops sent the body for post-mortem under a different name — Raju Mistry.
The police claimed the name change was a mistake and wasn’t deliberate. The search is now on for the real Raju Mistry, who is reported missing.
UP DGP Javeed Ahmad told reporters in Lucknow, “A custodial death is absolutely unacceptable and there is no question of not taking action.”
The Kanpur police has no answer as to how a man in a lock up could commit suicide in the presence of so many policemen and how did he get hold of a rope to hang himself.
The incident is expected to add to the troubles of a beleaguered Akhilesh government that is still facing flak for the Bulandshahar highway loot and rape case.
