An alleged custodial death has sparked off a row in Andhra’s Vijayawada, with rights activists and lawyers demanding action as per Section 176(1A) of CrPC (Inquiry of police custodial death).
On Tuesday, a person accused of breaking into a house in the city’s Ajith Singh Nagar police limits was taken into custody following a complaint from the resident. However, on the same evening, the accused was declared brought dead at the New Government Hospital. Police claim that he killed himself by hanging inside the Ajith Singh Nagar police station.
Police are yet to establish the identity of the deceased.
City police authorities have suspended three police officers for negligence based on a departmental inquiry. The suspended officials include an assistant sub-inspector, a head constable and a constable.
Addressing the media following the incident, Vijayawada City Police Commissioner stated that the accused had allegedly killed himself.
Activists belonging to Human Rights Forum (HRF), who set up a two-member fact-finding committee, pointed out the alleged loopholes and procedural flaws with regard to the incident.
In a press release, HRF demanded that the Circle Inspector of Ajith Singh Nagar police station should be discharged from duty, as the said incident happened under his watch. They demanded that he remain suspended till a proper investigation as per law is completed.
While questioning the narrative of the police, HRF state vice president G Sivanageswara Rao and Krishna district convener G Rohith said that the police station where the incident took place is a small building where every room is visible from every other room and at any given time, there would be 10 police personnel in the station.
They said, “It is still incomprehensible how a person could hang himself to death in the presence of so many people in such a small building with not even a single witness to the alleged suicide. It is not known if anyone tried to stop the accused from his attempt.”
While alleging that the station in-charge showed “gross negligence and dereliction of duty”, they said that the claims of dysfunctional CCTV cameras in the station premises need to be verified.
Asserting that a mere departmental enquiry was insufficient, HRF demanded an investigation by a Judicial or Metropolitan Magistrate as per Section 176 (1A) of Cr.PC.
Concurring with HRF’s demands, Bezawada Bar Association’s four-member panel, which is looking into the custodial death, has approached the Vijayawada Chief Metropolitan Magistrate seeking his intervention in the matter.
Speaking to TNM, P Srinivas, an advocate and member of the panel, said that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines were flouted in the case. He said, “Police are claiming that he hanged himself, but why was the inquest procedure video not recorded?”
He added, “The investigation must be done impartially as per the NHRC guidelines. Another investigation officer should be appointed in the case.”