Custody death sparks violence

CUSTODIAL DEATH of a Dalit youth at a police station here today sparked protest from public who staged demonstrations, two hour road blockade and forced markets to close down alleging police torture.

CUSTODIAL DEATH of a Dalit youth at a police station here today sparked protest from public who staged demonstrations, two hour road blockade and forced markets to close down alleging police torture. Vikram Khare (24), a sanitation worker with local municipal body, who was caught by the Kotwali police in a petty case last night, was found dead this morning, the police said.

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Amidst allegations by his family members that the police had beaten him up all night, district Collector R K Mathur ordered a magisterial probe into the death, official sources said.

Though no case was registered against policemen yet, Kotwali police station in-charge Mahendra Singh and constables Shambhu Singh and Bachu Singh were transferred to Police Lines after the incident, they added.

District Magistrate Rajkumar Mathur has ordered a magisterial probe into the case and announced immediate assistance of Rs 10,000 to the family of the deceased. Meanwhile, angry crowds shouted slogans against the police and staged demonstrations.

Reports of minor violence were received as the crowd forced shopkeepers to down their shutters, sources said, adding police were deployed in strength to avert any untoward incident.

If this is the condition of Dalits in the home district of the State Chief Minister, the condition of the State can be envisaged, he said adding that the BJP Government has failed to provide protection to the Dalits and minorities.