Woman detained by police commits suicide

Chhattarpur (MP), May 23 (UNI) A young woman committed suicide by consuming poison due to alleged police harassment immediately after she was released from police custody where she was interrogated in connection with theft of a motorcycle.

District Collector Ajatshatru, who visited Gavhara village along with the Superintendent of Police yesterday, announced a magisterial inquiry by Sub-Divisional Magistrate O N Pande into the death of 30-year-old Geetadevi. He also ordered payment of Rs 5,000 as ex-gratia and insurance amount of Rs 50,000 to her daughter.

Disciplinary action had been initiated against five police personnel in connection with the incident, police sources said.

Gourihar police station incharge Puranlal Prajapati and three police personnel were line attached while a lady constable had been suspended.

Police sources said four people had kept a motorcycle at Geetadevi's residence and took it away later. She was detained by the police on May 20 and released late in the night. She committed suicide at her residence the next day.

The villagers along with local MLA Vijay Bahadur Bundela resorted to road blockade agitation alleging police harassment leading to her death and demanded that cases be registered against the police personnel. Tension eased at the village after the visit of senior officers.

Police said the postmortem was performed yesterday and the last rites would take place on the arrival of her husband Balkishan Shukla, who is employed in Surat.

UNI