Custodial death in Barmer: Protests continue; postmortem of victim’s body yet to be conducted

Jaipur: The postmortem examination of the body of Jitendra Khatik alias Jeetu is yet to be conducted even 48 hours after the victim died allegedly in police custody in Barmer district of Rajasthan. The villagers and family members are protesting at the government hospital’s mortuary in Barmer accusing cops of harassment and torture. The villagers are demanding a compensation of Rs 1 crore and a government job for a family member and the arrest of the policemen who allegedly tortured him. They are also demanding for a CBI probe into the matter.

The Rajasthan government has already removed district SP Sharad Choudhary. The SHO of Barmer Rural police station Deep Singh was suspended and all members of police station staff were removed from duty and sent to Reserve Police Lines.

ADG Ravi Prakash and Jodhpur Range IG Navjyoti Gogai held talks with the protestors, but they didn’t budget from their demands. The government then sent Barmer MLA Mevaram Jain to placate the protestors.

The victim, identified as Jitendra Khatik alias Jeetu was taken into custody on suspicion that he was buying things from thieves and selling them. No such FIR has been registered with the police station despite that he was taken into custody in the name of interrogation, the family members alleged. They said that Jitendra was tortured after he was taken into custody. Jitendra was taken to hospital in regular vehicle instead of an ambulance.