Alleged excesses of the cops in Lakhimpur Kheri district led to the death of a minor boy.
The teenager was reportedly caught by the police on charges of mobile phone theft and brought to the police station where third degree was used to compel him to accept the crime after which he was released.
Four days later on Sunday morning, the boy succumbed allegedly to the assault by the cops.
The family members accused the police of brutally beating up the juvenile in custody. Angry family members staged a demonstration by placing the body of the teenager on the road after which local officers reached the spot and assured of action against the guilty after probing the matter.
The incident took place in Indira Nagar village under Sampurna Nagar police station in Kheri.
On Thursday, Rahul, 14-year-old son of Lakshi Ram of Indira Nagar village, was taken into custody by the Sampurna Nagar police on charges of mobile theft on the basis of a complaint made by his uncle. The family alleged that despite there being no confirmation of the allegation of mobile theft against Rahul, the police beat him up in the police station. They said when Rahul's condition became very critical after the alleged beating, the cops released him from the police station. The family members took him to a doctor and later admitted him at the community health centre in Palia.
The family claimed that the doctors told them of some haemorrhage and advised surgery.
However, before Rahul could be treated, he succumbed to his injuries on Sunday.
The news of the teenager’s death agitated his relatives and local residents who blocked the road after keeping the body on Khajuria road in the village. They demanded that a case be registered and the guilty policemen be arrested.
Kheri Superintendent of Police, Sanjeev Suman, who reached the spot along with other officers, said that the victim's uncle made a complaint of mobile phone theft and both sides were called to the police station and the boy was interrogated for 2-3 hours and later he was handed over to the family safely. On January 20, the victim's mother complained to the police that her son was beaten up by his uncle. He was later admitted to the hospital and died on Sunday morning. He said the family was now blaming the police. Suman said the matter would be investigated and action taken against the guilty.
Meanwhile at Aligarh's Dehli Gate police station, a riot control repeater gun accidentally went off, injuring three persons. The incident took place late on Saturday night. All three were rushed to hospital.
The senior superintendent of police also reached the spot and handed over the investigation to the circle officer while the guilty cop was removed and attached to the reserve police lines.
The relatives of the injured, besides MLA Sanjeev Raja and former mayor Shakuntala Bharti, reached the spot. The family created a ruckus but they were pacified by the officers.
Reports said the duty of constable Ankit was in the night shift on Saturday. Around 10 o'clock he received the riot control repeater gun from the day shift constable. After coming on the road outside the police station, he was checking the gun when it accidentally went off injuring three persons, two of whom were identified as Sumit and Dev, residents of Delhi Gate.
The injured were taken to the district hospital. CO Raghavendra Singh said that no one was seriously injured and after first aid they were sent home.