Unnao: Faisal Hussain died after head injury, had 12 contusions on body

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Gruesome details have been reported in the Mohammad Faisal Hussain “custodial death” case at Bangarmau Police Station in Unnao. While the police had initially claimed that the 17-year old had died of a “heart attack” on Friday, the post mortem report has now revealed that he in fact had succumbed to a head injury.

According to a report in the Indian Express, CCTV footage from the police station shows that the teenager was “dragged by some unidentified people as he struggles to walk or stand” he repeatedly collapses when two persons try to lift him, stated the IE report, adding that it was “not clear whether Hussain is being taken from the police station or being brought there.”

A day after his death, and subsequent protest by his family seeking justice and allegeding that Faisal was thrashed so badly by the police that he died, the postmortem reports blows the police version of a “heart attack” as the prima facie the cause of his death to smithereens. Faisal died of a head injury, stated the autopsy reports, and the post mortem examination also “found a severe injury behind Hussain’s ear and at least 12 contusions on his body” reported IE.

Nature and number of injuries on body of teenaged vegetable vendor Mohd Faisal listed in the post mortem report. Policemen had beaten Faisal to death for violation of lockdown. This report leaves Unnao police officers with egg on face for insisting he died of heart-panic attack. pic.twitter.com/JkEzVOkt2z
— हैदर ‏حیدر Haidar Naqvi?? (@haidarpur) May 23, 2021

On Friday night, the vegetable vendor’s family had told the media that he had been picked up by police and accused of violating Covid norms, and then they alleged the cops beat the boy severely. The boy’s family and supporters had even staged a protest at Lucknow road crossing against the police brutality. They sat with his body, in protest and demanded that the guilty be punished.

The three police officials identified as Constables Vijay Choudhary and Seemavat, and Home Guard Satya Prakash have been charged with murder, and suspended. However, it is not clear if all of them have been arrested yet. According to IE, Unnao Superintendent of Police Anand Kulkarni just said, “We will proceed as per the evidence present with us” when asked about the pending arrest. However, Kulkarni confirmed seeing the CCTV footage, and said the injury near the ear had caused internal bleeding and told the media that the probe “will seek medico-legal advice” and proceed “accordingly.”

The IE reports that according to Kulkarni there is CCTV footage available from the police station as well as the shop in a vegetable market from where Faisal was picked. The report states, “It is clearly seen that when he comes to the police station, he collapses. He is then picked up. But he collapses again. Then some police officials give him water. This whole sequence of events is recorded in the CCTV footage. In the meantime, some of his family members come” and the SP added: “I have also seen the CCTV footage of policemen slapping him at the shop from where he was picked up. They don’t hit him with sticks or anything else there.”

Faisal’s neighbour Mohammad Laeeq, told media-persons that he saw police beating him after they asked him what time it was. He recalled, “They started slapping him… I am not sure why the policemen singled him out as others were present at their shops as well.” The family, stated news reports, have in their complaint, said, Faisal “was beaten up mercilessly at the police station in the presence of Station House Officer” and that “When the family members reached the police station, he had been taken to the hospital and was left there, after which the policemen fled from there.” The report added that the family claims that while Choudhary and Prakash picked up the 18-year-old, Constable Seemavat took him to the local Community Health Centre (CHC) after his condition deteriorated. He was soon declared dead.

Home Guard arrested for ‘beating UP vendor to death’

Uttar Pradesh police have now arrested Home Guard Satya Prakash in connection with the “custodial death” case of 17-year old Mohammad Faisal Hussain. Unnao SP Anand Kulkarni told media-persons, “Preliminary investigation suggests that Vijay Choudhary and Satya Prakash were involved in the incident. We have not found any evidence against Seemavat as yet.” Constable Choudhary is still absconding, and according to the SP, “Search operations are being conducted by our teams at several places. The case is being investigated by the Crime Branch, which is collecting evidence and action will be taken as per the evidence.” The victim’s family had in their complaint alleged that Faisal was assaulted brutally at the police station in the presence of the station house officer. They stated that it was Choudhary and Satya Prakash who picked Faisal up, and Constable Seemavat took him to the CHC after his condition deteriorated.