Custodial death: Mahaveer Nagar SHO suspended; 21 policemen removed from duty

Jaipur: SHO of Mahaveer Nagar police station in Kota was suspended while 21 other policemen were removed from active duty and sent to police lines four days after a man – identified as Hanuman – died in police custody. Senior police officer said that the action has been taken in compliance with legal guidelines in cases of custodial deaths. A magisterial probe will be launched into the incident.

SHO of Mahaveer Nagar police station Mahesh Sing had been sent to lines two days ago, but he has now been suspended. Five SI and nine head constables are among those who were sent to lines on Tuesday.

“Policemen are removed in cases of custodial death so that the probe can be conducted in an unbiased manner,” said a senior police officer.

Hanuman had been arrested for disrupting peace. His family members alleged foul play. Hanuman’s wife Nathibai said that the postmortem examination was conducted without informing the family members. The police didn’t bother to even inform them about the arrest. The family members demanded that a case of murder be registered against the Mahaveer Nagar police officers.

She also alleged that the policemen rushed the body to the cremation centre and prepared a pyre before the family members could reach there. She told media persons that her husband was murdered and the police were now trying to hush up the matter.

She demanded an unbiased probe into the matter.