Inquiry ordered into UP Dalit youth’s death as family alleges custodial torture

A post-mortem was conducted on the family’s request after the body was brought from Lucknow, Additional SP Pawan Gautam said. No injuries were found on the body, he added.

“A detailed inquiry has been ordered into the death,” said SP Ganesh Prasad Saha in a statement. Circle Officer Ramesh Kumar Tiwari said Akash was suffering from septicemia and had been unwell for a long time.

According to the police, Akash was summoned to the station on September 5 for questioning in a theft case. Akash’s neighbour Radhey Shyam had filed an FIR, alleging that some people had broken the lock of his makeshift shop and stolen edible items from there. Shyam suspected Akash and his friend Riyanshu of being involved in the alleged theft, a police official said. “Akash’s friend did not come to the police station, so we released Akash next day. We wanted to question them together,” said Tiwari.