Held for consuming alcohol, sanitation worker ‘dies by suicide’ in police station

Girish Pandya, superintendent of police (SP) of Surendranagar district, said Patadiya was arrested following complaints from his family members. He said that on September 19, Ila Patadiya, wife of Patadiya’s son Vishal, had given a written complaint to the police accusing her father-in-law of creating a ruckus at their home and verbally abusing them after consuming liquor. She also stated in her application that her father-in-law used to threaten them that he would die by suicide and fix them in a case in the process.

“On Wednesday afternoon, his son and daughter-in-law again went to the police station complaining that Patadiya was abusing them after consuming liquor. Therefore, the beat in-charge and a constable went to Ratanpar area and found the man drunk. They brought him to the police station, filed an FIR for consuming liquor and then put him in the lock-up,” Pandya told The Indian Express, adding, “After a while, he visited toilet inside the lock-up room and died by suicide.”  The SP said that as Patadiya did not come out of the toilet, the police station officer (PSO) checked on him after a couple of minutes. “The PSO found Patadiya dead in the toilet,” Pandya said, adding,  “We showed the family CCTV  footage and they were convinced he was not subjected to any atrocities by police.” PSI Krishnaba Zankat, said .