4 RPF personnel booked over 2018 custodial death of a minor

While a post-mortem panel attributed the death to lung infection, the boy’s mother alleged he had been assaulted in custody. A second post-mortem was subsequently conducted on April 21 which confirmed lung infection but also revealed a hairline fracture on one of his toes

MUMBAI: Four Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been booked on Monday in connection with the alleged custodial death of a 17-year-old boy in 2018, following a magistrate’s order.

4 RPF personnel booked over 2018 custodial death of a minor

According to police, RPF personnel caught the boy on April 2, 2018 on suspicion of mobile phone theft and handed him over to Wadala Government Railway Police (GRP) the next day. He was produced before the Juvenile Justice Board on April 4 and sent to Dongri Children’s Home.

On April 12, he complained of stomach pain and was admitted to hospital, where he allegedly died on April 14.

While a post-mortem panel attributed the death to lung infection, the boy’s mother alleged he had been assaulted in custody. A second post-mortem was subsequently conducted on April 21 which confirmed lung infection but also revealed a hairline fracture on one of his toes.

Following a writ petition filed by the mother in the Bombay High Court, a magistrate enquiry was ordered.

The FIR was registered at Dongri police station and later transferred to Kurla GRP for investigation. “The assistant commissioner of police GRP, CSMT is investigating the case,” said an officer from Kurla GRP.