Man dies at police station while taking statement, family claims murder

Dewas:

The death of a 35-year-old Dalit man at a police station in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district sparked protests from his family, who alleged murder. The Congress on Sunday also criticized the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government for what it termed as “jungle raj” in the state.

Mukesh Longre died on Saturday after he was called to the Satwas police station here for questioning over a complaint lodged against him by a woman on December 26, police commissioner Puneet Gehlot said.

“While inspector Ashish Rajput was reading his statement, Longre put a noose around his neck Gamcha (towel), tied him to a window grill in the prison and started pulling his neck. Police stopped him and took him to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead,” the SP said.

“There is no case against him. He was simply asked to record his statement. Judge First Class (JMFC) Nandani Uikey is conducting an inquest into the death. The JMFC visited the site this morning. The district magistrate has appointed three doctors to “supervise the post-mortem process,” Mr Gehlot added.

Mr Gehlot said Inspector Ashish Rajput has been suspended while all other procedures as per Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as National Human Rights Commission guidelines will be fully followed.

“Some politicians have exploited the issue and his relatives have refused to allow a post-mortem until the entire police station staff is suspended. This is an irrational demand. We have already suspended the inspector as the death took place during his tenure,” Mr Gehlot said.

Meanwhile, Longre’s family alleged that police demanded a bribe to soften action against him in connection with the woman’s complaint, adding that staff later informed them that he had died.

At a protest outside the police station that began Saturday and continued Sunday, Longre’s relatives accused police of murdering him.

Attacking Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also holds the home portfolio, the Congress staged a protest outside Satwas police station on Sunday, which was also attended by Jitu Patwari, the party’s state unit chief.

“Jungle Raj rules in Parliament. A Dalit man was murdered in a police station. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav must take full responsibility for this incident,” Mr Patwari said.

Mr Patwari’s colleague and former Union minister Arun Yadav demanded suspension of the entire staff of Satwas police station.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)