Clash after Dalit’s death in Firozabad: Protesters claim several ‘falsely’ booked, police set up probe team

The move comes after one of the accused named in the case was found to already be in jail in connection with another case. The local corporator Sanghmitra, 40, who is also named in the case, claimed that she was in a hospital in Agra at the time of the incident.

On Friday, when the body of the deceased, Akash, was brought to his residence after the postmortem, a few persons allegedly argued with a police team accompanying the vehicle. Protesters alleged that Akash died due to “severe beatings” by police personnel before he was sent to jail on June 19 in a motorcycle theft case.

They blocked the road and pelted stones at the police and vehicles parked on the road, setting a motorcycle on fire. The situation was brought under control when the police used “mild force” to disperse the crowd.

In connection with the violence, the police registered an FIR against 32 named and 25 unidentified persons at the Firozabad South police station. The FIR was registered by the Firozabad station officer, Yogendra Pal Singh. No arrest has been made yet.

Akash died inside the jail hospital where he had been admitted on Friday morning after his condition deteriorated later the same day.

Among those named in the case is 26-year-old Ranu, who has been lodged in jail since June 5 in connection with an Arms Act case.

Ranu’s sister, Jyoti Singh, said, “The police have falsely named my elder brother Ranu Singh in the case related to Friday’s violence, which occurred a short distance from our residence. Ranu has been in jail since June 5, so there is no question of his involvement in the incident.”

She added that the police have also booked her mother, Suman Lata, and another elder brother, Hemendra Singh, who is bedridden due to illness. Hemendra is a teacher in school while Ranu Singh runs a shop.

“I don’t know how the police determined the alleged involvement of three members of my family in the violence,” said Jyoti, who is preparing for competitive exams.

The local corporator Sanghmitra, who is also named in the FIR, alleged that several people from her area have been “falsely implicated” in the case and have come to her for help.

Superintendent of Police Saurabh Dixit said the committee would check all available evidence, including scanning footage and photographs of the incident, before taking action against anyone in the case.