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6 UP policemen suspended after Dalit man dies in police custody
Though police officials accepted that Balkishan was arrested on Sunday and kept inside the lockup beyond 24 hours from the time of arrest, they denied that he was tortured
Six policemen, including the station house officer (SHO) of Dhanaura, were suspended after a 30-year-old Dalit man allegedly died in police custody in Amroha on Wednesday, three days after he was arrested in a vehicle theft case.
The move came after the police lodged an FIR of murder against the SHO and five other policemen. Alleging that the deceased, Balkishan Jatav, was tortured to death, his family members surrounded the police station and damaged the vehicle of sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Sanjay Kumar . The officer managed to escape their wrath by hiding in a nearby house.
According to the family of the deceased Balkishan Jatav, a resident of Basi Mustakam village under Dhanaura police station, was arrested on Sunday evening. “ Three policemen from Sherpur police outpost came to the house and took him away,” said Jatav’s cousin Kedar. “They didn’t tell us the reason for his arrest. The police officials tortured him inside the lockup of the police station that resulted in his death,” alleged Kedar.
Though police officials accepted that Balkishan was arrested on Sunday and kept inside the lockup beyond 24 hours from the time of arrest, they denied that he was tortured. “The station house officer of Dhanaura police station claimed that Balkishan fell ill on Monday morning, following which he was taken to the nearby government hospital. On Wednesday, he was taken to the district hospital where he died,” said Brajesh Singh, additional superintendent of police (ASP) of Amroha.
The officer met the family members of the deceased and assured them of a fair probe.
The deceased is survived by his wife and four children.
Meanwhile, Balkishan’s body has been sent for post-mortem.
According to a police official who didn’t wish to be named, Balkishan didn’t have a crime record. He was arrested by the Dhanaura police during the investigation of a case of van theft.
Based on the complaint submitted by Balkishan’s family members, the police have lodged an FIR of murder (section 302 of the IPC) and unlawful custody against SHO Dhanura Arvind Mohan Sharma, sub- inspector Manoj Upadhyay and four other constables, Ravindra Rana, Vineet Choudhary, Vivek Kakran and Jitendra Bainsla, all posted in the same police station.
The case will be investigated by an additional SP rank officer.
District magistrate (DM) of Amroha Hemant Kumar has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter.
“The magisterial inquiry will be conducted by additional magistrate. I have asked him to submit his findings within a fortnight,” said the DM
