In a horrific incident, A 20-year-old man who was taken into police custody on accusations of rape and sexual assault on Wednesday was found dead at the Chipyana police post on Thursday morning i.e. 16th May.
The victim, identified as Yogesh Kumar, worked at a bakery in the village and also lived on the premises.
On Tuesday, a complaint was forwarded to the assistant commissioner of police of this area from director general of police (headquarters) in Lucknow, wherein a co-worker, a woman, accused him of rape and sexual harassment at the workplace. As per her complaint, the incident took place about a month and a half ago.
No FIR has been filed in the matter yet.
The personnel at the police post called the suspect for questioning on Wednesday. “On Thursday, at 10am, the man was found dead, hanging from a rope inside the barracks on the premises of the police post. He was taken to a nearby hospital by the police but was declared dead. We are following National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines in the case and have launched an investigation into the incident,” the DCP said.
The brother of the deceased, Jitendra, alleged that the police have asked him for Rs 5 lakh to release his brother. But he could only arrange ₹53,000 & gave it to them & said that he would get them the rest the next day on which the police retorted that he could take his brother the next day. He was not allowed to meet his brother even the next morning & at 10 am he got to know that his brother was no more.
Jitendra, the brother of the deceased said that about two months ago, his brother and a woman had a dispute at the workplace, following which the manager resolved the matter. However, the woman continued to hold a grudge against his brother. He met the woman outside the police station and she told me she would ensure that his brother Yogesh landed in jail.”
Police commissioner Laxmi Singh said: “All the personnel posted at the police post, apart from the two under training, have been suspended following the incident. Preliminary investigation against police post in-charge, Bisrakh police station in-charge and assistant commissioner of police has been ordered. Additional DCP of Noida Manish Mishra has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation of the entire incident. Strict action will be taken against whoever is found negligent. A post-mortem examination will be done by a panel of doctors, along with videography.”
When asked about the bribery allegations, she said, “The family has not made any allegation against police officials in their written complaint. They have only submitted a complaint against the woman. Nonetheless, the bribery allegations will also be inquired during the probe”.
Rajeev Kumar Sharma, a human rights and RTI activist, said it was unlawful on part of the police to take the man into custody without filing an FIR in the case.
On a complaint from the family members of the deceased, an FIR was registered against the woman at the Bisrakh police station. “An FIR under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the woman on the basis of a complaint from the family members of the deceased,” Suniti said.
