Another custodial death

Another custodial death

Guj trader dies due to acid consumption in Latur lock-up; kin files petition in HC.

Pune: In yet another case of custodial death, a Gujarat-based trader, who was detained for investigation in a dacoity and hawala case, died under suspicious circumstances in Latur on October 15.

Initially, the police claimed that he died of a heart attack. However, a post-mortem report says that he died due to consumption of acid. A police constable has been suspended for giving toilet cleaning liquid to the deceased, the police said.

The incident came to light after deceased Narendra Singh’s brother Himmat Singh Hadiyal filed a petition in the Aurangabad bench of the Mumbai High Court last week. The victim’s family has refused to claim the body.

According to the petition, the Hadiyal brothers were picked up by Latur police from their house in Mehsana in Gujarat on October 11. The cops claimed that an FIR was registered against them with the Latur MIDC police station. 

Himmat Singh told Sakal Times, “The police did not produce us in the court for two days. I was released after I paid Rs 6 lakh, but my brother was arrested on October 13 as we could not arrange for Rs 10 lakh demanded by the police to release Narendra. They wanted another Rs 25 lakh to settle the case. I was still arranging for the money when the cops called me on October 15 saying my brother had a heart attack. But the post-mortem report has stated that the death was due to consumption of acid.”

Assistant Police Inspector Sudhakhar Bawkar of Latur MIDC police station denied the allegations. “Narendra was wanted in a dacoity case and I had arrested him from Gujarat. He was in a lock-up along with other suspects. On October 15 morning, he complained of foul smell from the toilet and asked for a cleaner.

A police constable on duty had given him the liquid cleaner bottle. Later, in the night, he complained of uneasiness following which we shifted him to a hospital, where he died an hour later. CCTV cameras in the lock-up has captured his movements,” Bawkar said. 

Police officials said that Narendra’s brother was immediately informed about the incident. “The body was kept in the morgue for two weeks and when Himmat Singh came, he refused to claim the body. Now, the case is being investigated by the CID,” Bawkar said. Earlier this month, Aniket Kothale, who was arrested on charges of robbery, died in the custody of Sangli police due to excessive use of force.

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