*Trigger warning: Disturbing descriptions of injuries, alleged torture and death follow.
A young man died, allegedly of injuries sustained while he was in police custody in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. His distraught family turned over his body to show purple bruises on his back, and buttocks. They alleged that the man was allegedly detained by the local police who suspected him to be involved in a case of loot. According to the family, the man was allegedly tortured in custody, and once released he died last night during treatment.
A young relative, possibly a sister of the victim, recalled his last moment to the media, saying the police did not even take the victim for treatment.
However, Kanpur DCP BBGTS Murthy, told the media that the victim’s family has accused “some” people. He adds that he was told there were cops from some other area which is being investigated. He asserts that the victim’s family has “not blamed” the local police.
Disturbing video: Family shows torture marks on the body of victim Jitendra Kumar. pic.twitter.com/6eoGwRkQ0f
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) November 16, 2021
Uttar Pradesh police has been under the scanner for alleged custodial deaths reported from Kasganj, and in October from Agra where the families of the victims have also alleged torture in Police custody.
In this case, that came to light on November 16, Jitendra Srivastava, a 25-year-old resident of Guva garden, Kanpur, was reportedly picked up by the local police on Sunday on suspicion of his involvement in a theft, reported the portal The News Agency. According to the family, when he was released from police custody, a badly bruised Jitendra had said he was in a lot of pain. The family says he breathed his last even before they could get him proper medical treatment. According to reports, Jitendra was a daily wage earner and was scheduled to go to Mumbai in a few days for a job.
The aforementioned young woman has named and accused Panki Chowki in-charge of keeping Jitendra in the lock-up and thrashing him. According to reports, the family kept the body of the youth on the road and was protesting. Soon the media footage of their distress was posted on social media. Senior police officials have since reportedly met the family. However, it is not yet known if any police officials
In UP’s Kanpur, a youth was allegedly detained by the local police in a case of loot and was tortured in custody before he was released, claim family members. He succumbed to his injuries last night during treatment. pic.twitter.com/FMDEU4kCZP
— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) November 16, 2021
उत्तर प्रदेश के कानपुर पुलिस पर फिर लगे गंभीर आरोप, कानपुर कमिश्नरेट की कल्याणपुर पुलिस पर हत्या का आरोप, चोरी के शक में युवक को हिरासत में थर्ड डिग्री देने का मामला, पट्टे से पीटा, हालत बिगड़ने पर घर पर छोड़ा, हुई युवक की मौत, शरीर पर है निशान, पुलिस की बर्बरता का वीडियो वायरल। pic.twitter.com/sEe2KcnT10
— Chandan Pandey (@Chandanup65) November 16, 2021
Remember Altaf who allegedly hung himself from a 2-foot pipe?
The case brings back memories of the recent death of 21-year-old Altaf, who died in Kasganj Police’s custody on Tuesday November 9. As soon as the news of his death had spread on Wednesday, November 10, Uttar Pradesh police were quick to claim that he had died by suicide in the toilet. Kasganj Superintendent of Police Botre Rohan Pramod had issued a video statement and claimed that Altaf, went to the washroom inside the lock-up and “there he sought to strangle himself by tying the naada or string of the hood of his jacket to a tap.”
Three days after Altaf was found dead, the minor girl who had gone “missing” in Kasganj district has been found. Altaf had been brought in “for questioning” as the girl’s family had reported her missing. Altaf was accused in a complaint by the girl’s family, of kidnapping her. He was found dead at the police station on November 9. Police claimed that he hung himself with a drawstring from the hood of his jacket, from a water pipe in a toilet. According to news reports, an FIR has been lodged against unidentified policemen, under IPC Section 302 (murder) at the Kasganj police station in connection with Altaf’s death, and a departmental inquiry as well a magisterial probe into the custodial death are being conducted simultaneously.
Now, Kasganj SP, Botre Rohan Pramod, was quoted by Indian Express saying, “The girl was recovered safely from Kasganj railway station. Teams had been formed and we tracked her location after surveillance. A medical examination was carried out the following day, there was no sign of any form of injury. Her statement has been recorded in front of a magistrate and further aspects of the case will be investigated”.
What happened in Agra?
A sanitation worker, Arun Valmiki, who had been accused of stealing Rs 25 lakhs, “suddenly fell ill”, reportedly during interrogation in police custody and was declared dead after he was taken to a hospital. This case was reported in October. Valmiki who worked as a cleaner had been accused of stealing Rs 25 lakh from the Jagdishpura police station’s storage house where confiscated items are kept. According to SP Muniraj, Rs 15 lakh were recovered when police raided his house. However, Arun’s family filed a complaint in connection with his death and members of the Valmiki community demanded a fair probe into his death.
They alleged that Valmiki “was questioned aggressively by the police which led to his death.” An FIR was filed against unknown accused at Jagdishpura for alleged murder. Six police officials, including a station house officer, were suspended after Rs 25 lakh and pistols had been stolen from the storage room of Jagdishpura Police Station.
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