Custodial death triggers anger, six cops arrested

Protesters clash with police, vandalise four vehicles

Six Delhi Police personnel, comprising a head constable and five constables, were arrested after a 30-year-old man died in their custody in south-west Delhi on Monday

.

It is alleged that the man was a victim of torture while being in detention. A mob turned violent after the incident and resorted to stone pelting outside Bindapur police station. Police used lathi-charge and tear gas to bring the situation under control.The victim has been identified as Manoj Chand, a resident of west Delhi’s Pankha Road in Uttam Nagar.

Police said a call was made to the police control room around noon reporting that Manoj had been picked up for questioning. Sources said the police officers were not wearing uniform when they visited Manoj’s house.

The caller also claimed that Manoj was being falsely dragged into a case of Arms Act registered with Bindapur police station.

“An initial probe has revealed that Manoj was detained and taken to old Matiala police post for questioning,” said a police officer.

Manoj’s health allegedly deteriorated during questioning due to which the policemen decided to take him to the nearest hospital.

“Manoj was taken to Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, where he was declared brought dead,” the officer added. Currently, police are waiting for the post-mortem report to ascertain the exact cause of the death.

A protest was held outside Bindapur police station after Manoj’s family members were informed. The protesters claimed that Manoj was beaten up by police, and questioned the reason behind Manoj being taken to a police post and not the police station.

They soon turned violent claiming that local police were trying to shield the policemen involved, and damaged at least four vehicles parked in the area. Senior police officers also visited the area, but failed to prevent the violence. Till late on Monday, around 200 locals continued to stay outside the police station and clashed with around 100 policemen.

Taking strict action over the allegations, senior police officers ordered a case and arrest of the personnel involved in detaining Manoj. The accused have been identified as Head Constable Bhoop Singh and constables Rajesh Solanki, Rajesh, Sudhir, Uttam and Arvind.

A case under sections 302 (murder) and 365 (kidnapping) of the Indian Penal Code has been filed against the police personnel.

“Further action in the case will depend on the post-mortem report. A departmental inquiry has also been ordered,” the officer said.

Manoj’s body will be handed over to family after the post-mortem on Tuesday. He is survived by his wife Rishi and a seven-month-old child. The couple had married around two years ago.

ACB nabs traffic cop The Anti Corruption Branch of Delhi government has arrested a Delhi Traffic Police constable and a tea vendor for allegedly giving and accepting bribe.

The accused has been identified as Constable Vichitra Kumar and Digvijay Singh, a tea vendor. Both were arrested on May 23 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

According to the ACB, a complainant, whose name was not disclosed due to security reasons, had contacted the department and informed about Kumar. The complainant said he was allegedly allowing illegal movement of Singh’s vehicles in the area in lieu of a bribe of Rs 600 at Usmanpur’s Fifth Pusta Road in north-east Delhi.

“The ACB officials briefed the complainant and a trap was laid to nab the accused.
 The ACB officials were deputed near his shop in plain clothes. Both the accused were caught red handed for giving and accepting bribe,” said an ACB official.