Yet another death of a youth allegedly due to police torture led to violent protests in Ghazipur on Monday morning. Agitated kin and locals not only attacked the police but also went on rampage torching several vehicles and a police outpost. Seeing the mob fury, the local cops left the scene and it was left to senior officers to rush there and ensure order. This is fifth death due to police excesses in the last seven days. 

Earlier, in lucknow, a youth was found hanging from the ceiling of a lock-up at Hassanganj police station while in Ghaziabad, a murder suspect was similarly found hanging inside the lock-up of Indirapuram police station. Besides, police brutality claimed the lives of a labourer in Moradabad, a vegetable vendor in Saharanpur and now at Ghazipur.

As per reports, Chandra Shekhar of Nasirpur area of Jungipur complained to the police last Wednesday that his daughter had been abducted by Achche lal aka Gullu. The police registered a case and picked up kin of the accused who was later identified as Ghanshyam (20) last Friday. He was subjected to interrogation but when his kin objected, he was set free the next morning. 

However, on Saturday evening, Ghanshyam was once again picked up and was subjected to third degree measures. It was only after his condition deteriorated that the cops asked him to go home on Sunday. His kin later admitted Ghanshyam to a hospital where he succumbed in the wee hours of Monday.

As the news of his death spread and since early morning, hundreds of villagers and kin took to the main road near Naupura crossing. They placed his body on the road and blocked traffic demanding action against the erring cops. 

When the police tried to clear the blockade, the villagers went on a rampage. They not only attacked the police but also targeted nearby Hansrajpur police outpost setting it afire. They also torched jeeps of the Station Officer and the Circle Officer. After several hours, senior police officers reached the scene with a heavy police force. They reasoned with protesters to call off their stir and promised prompt action against the guilty cops after which things limped back to normal.