There were large protests throughout Tuesday in Faridabad after an 18-year-old boy, Rahul, set himself on fire after allegedly being humiliated and beaten up by police officers who had taken him into custody and impounded his bike.
The victim’s family said that Rahul’s bike was impounded on Sunday when he was on his way to get medicine for his mother.
Police, however, said Rahul’s bike was seized as he was caught performing bike stunts in the Kalyanpuri Basti locality. A claim Rahul’s family has rubbished.
The family said Rahul was humiliated and beaten up in the police station. Rahuls’ mother, Kiran, said that after her son was released, Rahul went back to the station on Monday to recover his bike when an ASI-rank officer again beat him up and demanded a Rs. 10,000 bribe.
The victim returned home shortly after the incident. He is reported to have then poured kerosene over himself and set himself on fire in his room late Monday night.
He was rushed to the Safdarjang Hospital in Delhi where he succumbed to his injuries.
On there way back from Delhi, the victim’s family and locals staged a massive protest and blocked all roads in NH3 area in protest against what they alleged was police highhandedness and demanded an FIR against the ASI.