Inquiry ordered into UP Dalit youth’s death as family alleges custodial torture
“A detailed inquiry has been ordered into the death,” said SP Ganesh Prasad Saha in a statement
Written by Manish Sahu Lucknow | September 17, 2024 03:25 IST
An inquiry has been ordered into the death of a Dalit youth in Lakhimpur Kheri district after his family alleged that he died due to severe beating by police during questioning in a case of alleged theft, police said.
The youth, Akash, died at a hospital in Lucknow on Saturday, nearly two weeks after he was summoned to the Fardhan police station in Lakhimpur Kheri for questioning.
The police, however, have denied the allegations of torture.
A post-mortem was conducted on the family’s request after the body was brought from Lucknow, Additional SP Pawan Gautam said. No injuries were found on the body, he added.
“A detailed inquiry has been ordered into the death,” said SP Ganesh Prasad Saha in a statement. Circle Officer Ramesh Kumar Tiwari said Akash was suffering from septicemia and had been unwell for a long time.
According to the police, Akash was summoned to the station on September 5 for questioning in a theft case. Akash’s neighbour Radhey Shyam had filed an FIR, alleging that some people had broken the lock of his makeshift shop and stolen edible items from there. Shyam suspected Akash and his friend Riyanshu of being involved in the alleged theft, a police official said. “Akash’s friend did not come to the police station, so we released Akash next day. We wanted to question them together,” said Tiwari.