M'rashtra records most custodial deaths

Forty-seven people were killed in police custody between April and June this year while 131 cases of torture by police personnel have been registered across the country, an NHRC report said.

Of the 47 custodial deaths, Maharashtra registered the highest number of such incidents (10), followed by Assam (7) and Uttar Pradesh (5).

Similarly, in cases of custodial torture, Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest incidents (62), while Haryana and Delhi stood a distant second with 14 cases each. Rajasthan reported 10 such cases between April and June this year.

According to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), there were cases of 153 custodial deaths and 493 incidents of custodial torture in 2015-16. As many as 140 cases of custodial deaths were registered in 2013-14, which declined to 130 the next fiscal.

Maharashtra topped the list of states reporting custodial deaths in 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2015-16, with cases ranging from 20-26. Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal are other states in the list where 10-15 cases are reported every fiscal.

Officials, however, claim that all custodial deaths may not be due to torture and several could be due to natural causes. Activists, on their part, say some deaths could be avoided if those in custody are given adequate medical attention.

On custodial torture, Uttar Pradesh has the worst record as it reported 612 cases in the last three fiscals. The graph shows an increasing trend with 121 cases being registered in 2013-14, 145 in 2014-15 and 246 cases in 2015-16.