Man dies in judicial custody a day after assault over bid to steal truck

His family has alleged that he was tortured at Welcome police station.

A 24-year-old man died in judicial custody on Thursday, a day after he was allegedly caught stealing a truck and assaulted by its owner and the public in north-east Delhi’s Kabir Nagar, the police said.

A team from the Welcome police reached the spot and met one Hira Lal Kamra, who produced Mesar. Kamra told police that he caught Mesar with the help of locals and they assaulted him before informing the police. (HT Archive)

His family has alleged that he was tortured at Welcome police station. Deputy commissioner of police (north-east) Ved Prakash Surya denied this. Surya said Mesar was medically examined before being sent him to Mandoli jail. “A judicial inquiry by a metropolitan magistrate has been initiated,” Surya said.

On Wednesday, around 2.50am, the DCP said, police were informed that a vehicle thief was caught on the 100 feet road in Kabir Nagar. A team from the Welcome police reached the spot and met one Hira Lal Kamra, who produced Mesar. Kamra told police that he caught Mesar with the help of locals and they assaulted him before informing the police, the DCP said. “Mesar was sent to Jag Pravesh Chandra Hospital where he was examined. A case under sections 379 (theft) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the IPC was registered,” said Surya.

Mesar’s relative Abdul Waseem said he was a cab driver and lived in Pul Prahladpur. “We went to the police station but were not allowed to meet him. We spoke to him over an officer’s phone. He told us that he was in pain. We suspect that he succumbed to injuries caused by police torture,” Waseem said.

DCP Surya said, “Mesar was not assaulted by police. We are initiating legal action against the truck owner and others.”