In perhaps the first case of its kind, all 14 policemen at a police post in Kanpur have been suspended following the death in custody under suspicious circumstances of a 25-year-old Dalit, Kamal Valmiki.
The family members of the deceased have alleged the young man’s death was due to severe beating by the police. They have filed an FIR against the station in-charge and the rest of the staff on duty.
According to reports, Valimiki, a resident of Shiv Katra village was brought to the Ahirwan police station two days ago in connection with a theft. In an alleged attempt to hush up the death, reportedly the police had initially sent the body for post-mortem under a false name. The post-mortem report is awaited.
Meanwhile another person, Raju Mistry, who was also picked up along with Valmiki is missing. A case of kidnapping has been slapped against all the suspended cops while one of them has reportedly been charged with murder.
"Death in police custody is a very serious offence and we will spare no one in this case," said UP’s police chief, Javed Ahmed.
Valmiki’s death is sure to further fuel the ongoing agitation in different parts of the country over atrocities against Dalits and increasing instances of cow vigilantism. Local Dalits have already clashed with the police and former UP chief minister and leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party has taken up the issue in a big way.
The ruling Akhilesh Yadav government which has been under fire from the Congress and the BJP for the law and order situation in the state will face further heat now. Assembly elections are due to be held next year in UP where Dalits form 26% of the state's electorate.