Kolkata, Sep 14 (IANS) : The mysterious death of an accused in police custody has created a stir in Chandrakona police station in West Midnapore district on Monday.
According to the district police, the man, who was an accused in a theft case, tried to commit suicide by hanging himself in the police station’s toilet on Sunday.
He was later taken to the hospital but could not be saved.
However, the man’s family alleges that he was killed in police custody. The young man’s house is in Bageshwarpur area of Chandrakona.
According to the police, a young man named Rahul Ruidas, in his twenties, was arrested four days ago in a theft case. After that, he was produced in the Ghatal Sub-district Court, where the judge ordered his four-day police custody.
While in police custody, Rahul went to the police station toilet on Sunday. There, he allegedly tried to commit suicide by tying his pants around his neck.
Hearing a noise inside the toilet, the police entered and rescued him. The young man, who was unconscious at that time, was first taken to Chandrakona Rural Hospital. After receiving initial treatment there, his condition deteriorated and he was taken to Ghatal Sub-district Hospital, where he died.
According to local sources, the young man was addicted to drugs. He was also involved in crimes like theft and robbery and the young man’s family has also admitted to this.
Talking about the young man’s death, his brother broke down in tears and told media persons on Monday, “My elder brother was killed. One policeman says he strangled himself with a pant rope. Another policeman says he hit his head on something. The two policemen are saying different things.”
The district police has not yet officially commented about this incident.
Earlier, in August, Birju Keot, the husband of Jenny Sharma Keot, a former Trinamool Congress councillor at Kanchrapara Municipality in North 24 Parganas district, died in police custody.
It was alleged that he died due to beating in the lock-up. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari admitted to police negligence in the death of the husband of the former Trinamool councillor.
In addition to ordering a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into the incident, the Investigating Officer (IO) of the local police station was suspended. The Inspector-in-Charge of the police station was also ‘closed’.
Last week, it was alleged that a person died in police custody in Bakhrahat of Bishnupur area in South 24 Parganas district.
