Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A 28-year-old man died after his health deteriorated while he was in police custody in Uttar Pradesh, with his family alleging custodial mistreatment, while police denied the allegations and said he died of cardiac arrest. The deceased was identified as Rajesh, a resident of a village in UP’s Budaun.
Police said a fight broke out between two groups during a community feast at a village temple on Thursday evening. Rajesh was taken to the police station for questioning in connection with the dispute, while a man from the other group who sustained a head injury was sent to hospital.
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According to police, Rajesh went to the toilet at around 4 pm on Friday and collapsed shortly after returning. Police rushed him to a hospital, where doctors referred him to Budaun district hospital. He was declared dead later that evening.
Dr Ritesh Bhasin, posted at the community health centre, said Rajesh was brought in with breathing difficulties and was in a serious condition. He was referred to the Budaun district hospital for further treatment, adding that no visible injury marks were found on his body.
Rajesh’s family, however, has alleged that he died at the police station and questioned the circumstances surrounding his death. His brother Viresh claimed Rajesh had been kept at the station overnight after the altercation.
“The police brought my brother to the police station and kept him there the whole night. He died at the police station itself,” Viresh alleged.
A relative said the family had met Rajesh shortly before his condition deteriorated. “We had met him about 10 minutes earlier. He was fine and had eaten samosas. Suddenly, he collapsed,” the relative claimed.
Questioning the circumstances of his death, Rajesh’s wife said he was fine when police took him away and alleged that the family received no information about his condition at the station.
CCTV footage shows Rajesh lying on the police station floor before sitting up and walking towards the toilet. After returning, he is seen collapsing on the floor, prompting police personnel to rush over and carry him away.
Budaun Senior Superintendent of Police Ankita Sharma said police had brought both groups involved in the dispute to the station after the altercation over loud music at the village temple. Since one man had suffered significant injuries, he was sent to hospital, while Rajesh was booked for disturbing the peace.
A panel of doctors conducted the post-mortem examination and found cardiac arrest to be the cause of death, Sharma said, adding that no injury marks were found on Rajesh’s body.
The SSP said police reviewed the station’s CCTV footage, which showed no evidence of assault or torture. Sharma said a competent officer would investigate the circumstances surrounding the death and that strict action would be taken if anyone was found guilty.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
