Youth dies in custody; SHO, ASI suspended after protests

Hoshiarpur, Aug 19 (UNI) A youth died in police custody at Dasuya Police Station this morning allegedly after being torture by the investigation officers, who were suspended after public protests.

The death of 26-year-old Mandip Kumar alias Rinku (26), sparked off a protest at Dasuya town, 40 km from here, with a large number of people led by his father, blocking vehicular traffic demanding that Station House Officer Munish Kumar and ASI Avtar Singh, investigation officer, allegedly responsible for his death be punished.

Mandip Kumar was arrested on August 17, 2007 in connection with an FIR registered in June in connection with the theft of two mobile phones, Rs 4000 cash and some ornaments.

He was produced before a court at Dasuya yesterday and remanded in the police custody for two days.

According to the police sources, after interrogation ASI Avtar Singh, instead of sending Mandip to the lock-up, left him in the room. Mandip Kumar, who was alone in the room committed suicide by holding a naked electric wire, they said.

Police sent the body to Civil Hospital, Dasuya, for the postmortem. The family however, refused to accept the police version and launched the protest.

Later, SP (H) Opinderjit Singh Ghuman intervened and pacified the protestors saying a case had been registered and officers concerned suspended.

Deputy Commissioner, D K Tiwari said SDM Dasuya had been deputed to conduct an inquiry and instructed the district police authorities to immediately shift SHO Munish Kumar and ASI Avtar Singh from Dasuya police station.

SP (H) Opinderjit Singh Ghuman told that a case under section 306 of the IPC has been registered against the SHO Munish Kumar and ASI Avtar Singh for torturing Mandip Kumar which led to his suicide.

UNI