Family alleges assault, police say suicide as robbery suspect’s custody death sparks storm in Bihar village

His body was allegedly found in the police lock-up early on Thursday.

“Based on CCTV footage, it appears that Shivam Jha, who was confined in the lock-up, hanged himself around 3.30 am with a muffler by the rails of the ventilator,” Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sushil Kumar said. “Initial investigation has revealed lapses on the part of the OD (On Duty) Officer, the guard (a constable), and SHO Sudhakar Pandey. They have been suspended.”

The on-duty officer has been identified as Tanuja Kumari. The suspended policemen were found in dereliction of duty.

“Since it’s a custodial death, we are following due process under the guidelines of the NHRC and Supreme Court, and have called a forensic science laboratory team to the scene,” the SSP said.

“I have also written to the DM that the post-mortem examination will be done by a board of three doctors, which will be videographed. I have written to the district judge for a judicial investigation. Further action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation,” the officer said, adding that Jha was found previously involved in a murder case from October 2024.

Meanwhile, his family and other village residents stormed the police station Thursday morning, sources said.

The family has rejected police’s claims, alleging that Jha was “beaten to death” while in custody.

“We had organised Saraswati Puja in our locality. On the evening of February 3, we were sitting near the puja pandal when a few policemen arrived and apprehended my brother and two others, alleging their involvement in a bike theft,” said Ashish Jha (24), brother of the deceased.

He further alleged that when he and his mother visited the police station the next night to see his brother, Shivam told them “he had been severely beaten within a room located behind the lockup”.

“When we tried to visit him again on the morning of February 5, the policemen denied us access. They sent us home, claiming that Shivam was being taken for a medical examination before his court appearance. We returned later that day, only to be turned away again. The policemen assured us that my brother would be released soon,” Ashish recalled.

He further alleged that the police had released two of the other arrested men the same night. “Later on Thursday, an acquaintance informed me that Shivam had died in jail. When my family and I rushed to the police station, we found his body,” Ashish Jha said.

Ashish said Shivam assisted him in his sound system services business. He said his father, Krishna Dev Jha, is a priest, and his mother, Rinku Devi, used to work as a private nurse until a few years ago. Ashish and Shivam have a younger brother who is a minor.