The death of a 35-year-old Dalit man inside a police station in Madhya Pradesh’s Dewas district triggered protests from his kin who alleged murder. On Sunday, the opposition Congress slammed the Mohan Yadav-led BJP government for a “jungle raj” in the state.
Mukesh Longre died on Saturday after being called to Satwas police station here for questioning in a complaint submitted against him by a woman on December 26, Superintendent of Police Puneet Gehlot said.
While inspector Ashish Rajput was reading his statement, Longre made a noose around his neck with a gamcha (towel), tied it to a window grill in the lock-up and began yanking his neck. Police stopped him and rushed him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead, the SP said.
“There is no case against him. He was just called to record his statement. Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) Nandani Uikey is conducting an inquiry into the death. The JMFC visited the spot this morning. The district magistrate has appointed three doctors to oversee the post-mortem process,” Gehlot added.
The district chief officer said inspector Ashish Rajput has been suspended, and all other procedures laid down under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and National Human Rights Commission guidelines are being followed in toto.
“Some politicians have hijacked the issue, due to which his kin have refused to allow post mortem till the entire staff of the police station is suspended. This is an irrational demand. We have already suspended the inspector since the death took place while he was in charge,” Gehlot said.
Meanwhile, Longre’s relatives claimed police had been asking for a bribe to make the case filed against him less serious about the woman’s case, and the personnel allegedly informed them later that he already died.
Amid the protest outside the police station that started on Saturday and carried over on Sunday, Longre’s family accused the police of murder.
Attacking Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who also holds the home portfolio, the Congress protested outside Satwas police station on Sunday. The protest was attended by the party’s state unit chief, Jitu Patwari.
