UP: Man Dies In Police Custody, Cops Claim He Hanged Himself From 2-Foot High Pipe

The custodial death of a 22-year-old Muslim on Tuesday has sparked outrage as people questioned the police theory that he strangulated himself by tying the string of his jacket with the tap inside the washroom at the police station. The man’s family has alleged that he was murdered in custody.

NDTV reported that Altaf was hauled to Kotwali police station on Tuesday morning in connection with the case of the “kidnapping of a woman and forced marriage”.

Etah’s Police Superintendent Rohan Pramod Bothre said in a video statement that the accused asked for a toilet. When he did not come out, police went inside the washroom and found that he was dead. 

“He was wearing a black jacket and it appears he hooked the string, attached to the hood of the jacket, to a tap in the washroom and tried to strangle himself. He was brought out unconscious and taken to the hospital. He died within 5-10 minutes,” NDTV quoted SP Bothre claiming in the video. 

He said that five cops have been suspended for “negligence”.

However, the family has alleged foul play as his father Chand Miyan told reporters that he suspects the involvement of cops in the hanging that killed Altaf. 

People on social media expressed their scepticism on the police theory saying that the claim did not add up.

“How does a person choke himself from a string tied to a tap? Would urge the SP to elaborate. And if he indeed (allegedly) die by suicide, then why have five policemen been suspended? Get your story straight please,” wrote journalist Neelesh Mishra.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has hit out at the state government over the incident and demanded a judicial probe. “The death in the police station of a youth brought in for questioning is very suspicious. The suspension of some policemen on the ground of negligence is just for show. For justice and to restore the faith in police under the BJP’s rule, a judicial probe must be conducted.”

Meanwhile, some activists launched hashtag #justiceforAltaf pointing to rising custodial deaths in Uttar Pradesh.