FIR against five cops for custodial deaths

As the news spread,the family members of the deceased and other residents of the area blocked the main road in Beniganj locality of Khuldabad alleging that the two had been shot dead by the policemen.

Initially,the police claimed that the two men had a criminal past and the deaths were a result of a fight between them over sharing of booty following a theft of several lakh rupees in Himmatganj area.

However,following persistent protests,senior police officials ordered registration of FIR against the policemen against whom the allegations were made.

SSP (Allahabad) Mohit Agarwal,who took over the charge on Tuesday,said,“There are allegations that the policemen had first beaten them up and then shot them dead while having them in custody. A case of murder has been registered and the inquiry has been handed over to Inspector,Civil Lines.” The FIR has been registered against police post in-charge sub-inspector Rajesh Kumar and four other constables.

Another senior police official said police post in-charge of Sabzi Mandi under Khuldabad police station area was investigating a theft of over Rs 20 lakh in cash and other valuables that had taken place on the intervening night of July 29 and 30 in Himmatganj area. “One Sunny Pasi had been arrested in this connection. He had told the interrogators that Suresh,Ajay,Sanju Pasi and Raj Kumar were involved in the theft and there was also a fight between Ajay and Suresh. The two were picked up by the police for questioning on Monday evening,” said a senior police officer.

The police said criminal records of the deceased were being ascertained. However,preliminary investigations revealed Suresh used to put up a roadside vegetable vend,while his father was physically handicapped. Ajay,too,came from lower economic strata,the police said.