Death in custody triggers mob fury

Cops catch farmer for plucking jackfruit

Plucking jackfruit from someone else’s tree proved fatal for an Uttar Pradesh farmer in Kaushambi district.

The farmer, who was detained by the police for stealing jackfruit, died in police custody on Friday, allegedly due to police torture.

Enraged over the farmer’s death, a mob later went on the rampage and indulged in heavy stone pelting and damaged several vehicles. A police constable has been suspended in this connection, police sources said.

According to reports, the farmer, identified as Mahant Lal was plucking jackfruit from a tree near his village, when he was caught by some people, who took him to Charwan police station.

The family members of the victim alleged that he was thrashed by policemen while in the custody following which he died a little later. Police took his body to the district hospital and fled from there without informing the doctors.

Hundreds of villagers soon gathered near the police station on getting the information about the death. They damaged several vehicles and also indulged in stone pelting. A police vehicle was also torched by the irate mob.

The mob demanded compensation to the family of the deceased and arrest of the guilty of policemen. Police claimed that Mahant Lal had died of heat stroke.

A case has been registered against a constable and he has been suspended, police officials said.

Earlier too, many deaths have taken place in police custody in the state. The UP police are already on the back foot over the death of terror accused Khalid Mujahid in police custody.

A CBI probe has been recommended by the state government in the death and nine policemen have been suspended in this connection.