A 45-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death while in police custody in Loni area, Ghaziabad, on Wednesday,

The victim’s relatives claimed the deceased, Deen Mohammed, was summoned by the chowki-in-charge of Nithora, after a resident of Bhagpat lodged a complaint claiming Mohammed owed him money. “He was called to the chowki at 12.30 pm and was beaten to death. The police admitted him to a nearby hospital and informed us around 2.30 pm. The police did not tell us anything about his demise,” alleged Tariq, Mohammed’s nephew.

Akhil Kumar, senior superintendent of police (Ghaziabad), suspended the whole chowki after the incident.

The police, however, have claimed Mohammed died of heart attack at home. “We had received a complaint from Jaipal. We had summoned him to investigate; he was not even detained,” said Brahm Singh, chowki-in-charge, Nithora, Loni.

Mohammed’s relatives, meanwhile, blocked the Saharanpur-Delhi highway in protest and also attacked the chowki. A probe has been ordered in the incident.