17-year-old Dalit boy passed away on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district, four days after he had been allegedly brutally beaten in police custody. Three police officers have been suspended in the matter so far, as led reports.
Rahul, the deceased was a resident of Indira Nagar village in Sampurnanagar, was taken for questioning by the police on 19 January, two days after his uncle had lodged a complaint against the teenager on the charges of mobile theft.
Lakhimpur Kheri Superintendent of Police Sanjiv Suman said, “The boy’s relatives and mother had come to the police station. His uncle and the village chief were also there. Questioning went on for 2-3 hours in front of everybody. After the interrogation, the two parties arrived at an agreement. A written copy of the compromise is available with the police. The boy was then handed over the family at about 3 pm on 19 January.”
However, the family alleged that Rahul was badly beaten by the police, and had suffered severe injuries in custody. On Sunday, he was admitted to the Community Health Centre in Palia as soon as his condition detoriated, where he died.
The police said that the mother of the boy had on Sunday morning filed a complaint saying that Rahul’s uncle had beaten the boy on 20 January at 10 pm in the night. The teenager had subsequently been hospitalised at 11:30 pm. After his death, the bereaved family lodged a complaint against the Kheri police.
“A probe has been ordered into the matter, and it will be investigated. If police persons are found guilty, strict action will be taken against them,” SP Suman told media.
Meanwhile, Rahul’s relatives and other villagers placed his body at a crossing in the village, and were reportedly protesting against the police.
