ASP facing custody death probe missing

Additional SP (ASP) facing a CB-CID probe against him in a case of alleged custodial death in Barabanki in 2009 has not reported on duty since July 5.

An Additional SP (ASP) facing a CB-CID probe against him in a case of alleged custodial death in Barabanki in 2009 has not reported on duty since July 5 after the state government sanctioned prosecution against him. The ASP,Ajay Pratap,was posted with the Lakhimpur Kheri district police.

Special DGP (Law & Order) Brij Lal said the CB-CID received the prosecution sanction from the government against ASP Ajay Pratap and he is to be arrested for the custodial death of a petrol pump salesman in Barabanki. He is absent from duty since long from Kheri district and untraceable,Lal added.

Kheri Superintendent of Police Amit Chandra said ASP Pratap sought permission for a days leave for July 4. He did not turn up for duty next day,but an application sent by his wife was received through fax on July 5. The application stated Pratap was unwell. No further contact was made on behalf of the ASP since then and now he was replaced by another ASP this week,Chandra said.

The case against ASP Ajay Pratap is related to a robbery of Rs 1.25 lakh from Sushil Verma,a salesman of Sidhha petrol pump in Jahangirabad area of Barabanki,on June 24,2009. The police brought Verma for interrogation at the local police station on June 26 suspecting his role behind the robbery. Vermas condition deteriorated in police custody and he was declared brought dead at the district hospital next day.

A case of murder was registered against then Circle Officer Dharmendra Sachan,Station Officer Anand Singh and four other policemen. The ASPs name was included in the case following the courts intervention later and the government ordered a CB-CID probe in July,2009.

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