Two die in police custody, nine cops booked

Sanjay Nishad, 22, and Ashok Nishad, 29, died on Monday, reportedly after being beaten inside Allahabad's Ghoorpur police station. According to Raj Kumar Nishad, a close kin of the victims: "Sanjay and Ashok had simply gone to the beer shop to make some purchases when two-three policemen suddenly appeared on the scene and started beating up all and sundry around the shop. They picked up five people, including Sanjay and Ashok, and took them to the police station where they were subjected to physical torture."

Sanjay and Ashok were rushed to the district hospital when their condition deteriorated. While Ashok was declared "brought dead", Sanjay died shortly thereafter.

Nine policemen were suspended and charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder - under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code. The post-mortem report says "cause of death not ascertained", but confirms severe injuries.

"Both of them were heavily drunk and had fired at policemen carrying out checking outside a beer shop," additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Brij Lal told IANS here Tuesday.

"One of the cops Sanjay Pandey received bullet injuries and was hospitalised," he maintained.