Death in custody: Cop suspended, judicial investigation to follow

A day after a tribal youth died in custody of Rangpur police station in Chhota Udepur taluka here, a sub-inspector was suspended on Friday even as the uncle of the deceased filed a complaint of illegal confinement against the police officer.

"The youth was in police custody but its records were not available with the police station. Being primarily responsible for the police station, PSI S S Anand has been suspended for dereliction of duty," DIG (Vadodara range) S S Trivedi told The Indian Express, adding that a judicial inquiry would be ordered into the incident.

Trivedi said victim Vipul Rathva, 20, a resident of nearby Moti Sadhli village, was brought to the police station on May 14 for questioning in connection with the murder of Sughari Rathva, a resident of nearby Khadkhad village. But Anand did not take his action on record.

The DIG said the cause of Vipul's death would be known after the postmortem report comes. "Samples of his viscera have been sent for forensic analysis," he added.

The investigation in the murder case has been handed over to Dabhoi Deputy Superintendent of Police J D Ramgadia.

Meanwhile, Vipul's uncle Raju Rathva filed a complaint against Anand and two unidentified policemen for confining his nephew illegally.

Vipul was reportedly found hanging from the ceiling fan in a room at the Rangpur police station on Thursday morning.

While police claim the youth committed suicide, his family members allege he was beaten to death by policemen.

ALSO READ

Gujarat cops get a hi-tech eye in sky

Modi govt does rethink on death penalty for Kodnani

CM slams ‘weak, corrupt’ UPA

Narayana Murthy lauds Modi as the ‘finest administrator’