Auto Drivers Union demands suspension of responsible police officer
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 3: An autorickshaw driver was allegedly beaten to death while in custody by a police officer attached at East Police Station in Dimapur on Wednesday. The police officer alleged to be involved in the incident is in the rank of a sub-inspector. The victim, Ramesh Kumar Yadav, along with some fellow autorickshaw drivers were reportedly taken into police custody on Tuesday last, according to a highly reliable source. They were all charged with “smuggling of arms, alcohol and drugs”, the source informed.
Later on the police released some of the drivers, while detaining only three of the suspects – including the now deceased Ramesh Kumar Yadav. Reportedly, in the process of “interrogation” the suspects were “tortured” inside the police station resulting in the death of Ramesh.Dimapur police sources however denied that the victim died inside the police station. An official from the Dimapur police establishment said that the victim died in a hospital, and not inside the police station as alleged.
However, autorickshaw drivers in Dimapur have alleged custodial death. On Wednesday, the Dimapur District Auto Drivers Union (DDADU) issued a press statement condemning the “custodial death of an auto driver, Ramesh Kumar Yadav, who was picked up by Dimapur Police on Tuesday night.”
The Union has demanded that the authorities concerned conduct an inquiry into the incident and also suspend the responsible person/police officer “for his brutal act”. The police should also pay adequate compensation to the kin of the victim and justice be delivered at the earliest, the statement said.
“It is understood that police can arrest people for criminal activities and subject to thorough interrogation but not to such an extent of torture that someone dies in their custody,” it reasoned.
