In yet another custodial death reported in the national Capital, a 32-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself inside the toilet of the Jahangirpuri police station in the wee hours of Wednesday. He was called for questioning in connection with the case of a woman who went missing. Police said that the incident took place at around 10.30 pm and came to light at 2 am.
“We had called Raj Kumar for questioning. We offered him food. After questioning, we were asking him to give a written statement. It was during this time that he asked if he can relieve himself. Hours later, at around 2 am, we found him hanging from the window of the toilets in the police station using a cloth (gamcha),” said a police officer.
Meanwhile, relative of the victim suspected police brutality as the reason behind the mysterious death of Raj Kumar inside the police station.
Raj Kumar, the deceased, a native of Etah in Uttar Pradesh, came to the Jahangirpuri police station on Tuesday after a team of policemen reached his house in Etah.
"My uncle was called for questioning in connection with the case of a woman who went missing," said Ankit, Rajkumar's nephew.
Narrating what led to the woman missing case, "Till last year my uncle, Raj Kumar, used to work as a security guard in Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya in Pitampura. At that time, a woman, who worked as a sweeper was allegedly fighting with her husband within the school premises. As a security guard of the school, he asked them to stop. Two months later, he left his job and came back home to work in his agricultural fields. However, a few weeks back, a team of police consisting of Sub-Inspector Himanshu from the Jahangirpuri police station came to uncle's place asking about his whereabouts.
On Tuesday afternoon, at around 3 pm, My uncle called me to inform that he is going to the police station as the cops are asking him to give a written statement as part of the investigation."
Pointing towards the indifference of the policemen, Ankit told The Pioneer, "It was only on Wednesday morning at around 9 am that one of the police officers called the family of Raj Kumar informing them that he has fallen sick and is admitted in the Babu JagJivan Ram hospital. I immediately called up the SHO of Jahangirpuri police station. He feigned ignorance. Two hours later, I again contacted him. By that time I went to the hospital where the doctors informed that my uncle committed suicide.
Questioning the policemen, Ankit asked, "If my uncle had done something wrong, why would he go up to the police station. I am sure that police must have treated him badly or else why would he end his life."
A senior police officer said, "Raj Kumar's body was found hanging in the toilet of Jahangirpuri police station. His body has been moved to the mortuary of the Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital in Jahangirpuri. The officer said that a medical board will be formed to conduct the autopsy.
The officer added, "A post-mortem examination by a board of doctors has been requested and the Judicial Magistrate and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate were called on the spot immediately after the body was found inside the premises of the Jahangirpuri police station."
It must be mentioned that this is the second case of custodial death in the Northwest district. On December 28 last this year, Sompal, a 24-year-old fruit seller, was found dead under mysterious circumstances inside the Adarsh Nagar police station following which the five policemen were suspended.
Sompal was detained and brought to the Adarsh Nagar Police station after he had allegedly picked up an argument with a shopkeeper in Azadpur. Sompal was allegedly beaten by the policemen and he had died. After his death in the police station, the then SHO and five other police personnel dumped his body near Majlis Park Metro Station to pass it off as an unidentified body.