Custodial Death in MP Sparks Investigation and Allegations of Discrimination

A 31-year-old man, arrested in a murder case, was found hanging in a police station lock-up in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district on Sunday morning. This incident led to the suspension of three police personnel, officials reported. Police suspect it was a suicide case.

Senior police officers were alerted after Balkrishna Jatav, also known as Sunny, was discovered hanging from a cloth tied to a window inside the Civil Lines police station lock-up around 5:30 am. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Bhupendra Singh Kushwaha confirmed this information.

Opposition Claims and Family Allegations

The opposition Congress claimed that the deceased was a Dalit and accused the police of targeting Scheduled Caste community members. Sunny's family alleged he was taken into custody four days prior, not on Saturday as stated by the police.

Superintendent of Police Sameer Saurabh visited the scene and subsequently suspended the police station in-charge, inspector Rambabu Yadav, a head constable, and a constable over the custodial death. Additional Superintendent of Police Arvind Thakur stated that prima facie, it appeared to be a suicide case.

Judicial Probe and Autopsy

Thakur mentioned that a judicial magistrate would investigate the custodial death following National Human Rights Commission guidelines. The autopsy of the deceased is being conducted by a panel of doctors. "Action would be taken according to the evidence which comes forth," he added.

Sunny had a criminal record with four to five cases registered against him in different police stations previously. Meanwhile, Congress demanded the dismissal of Morena's superintendent of police over this incident.

Congress Reaction and Protests

MP Congress chief Jitu Patwari took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his outrage. He wrote, "Is it a crime to be a Dalit in MP? After Katni, another Dalit has come on the police target." He referred to another recent incident involving alleged police brutality against a Dalit woman and her grandson.

Patwari questioned why the BJP government harbours so much hate against people with Dr BR Ambedkar's ideology. He threatened an indefinite hunger strike if Morena SP was not dismissed and if a murder case was not registered against the policemen involved.

Heavy police force has been deployed around the police station after Sunny’s family and acquaintances protested, alleging foul play over his death.