JAISALMER: The staff of Pachpadra police station in Barmer was sent to Police Lines, and an FIR registered against eight cops, including an SHO, over the death of a 47-year-old RTI activist in police custody, on Sunday. The SHO has been suspended by the state government.

Jagdish Golia used to work as a typist at the district collectorate and would file RTIs. Golia and two of his cousins were arrested on Saturday over a land dispute at Sarna Gav. They were produced before a tehsildar on Sunday, police said.

“Golia’s health began to deteriorate even before he could be produced. He was taken to a government hospital in Balotra , where doctors declared him brought dead,” SP (Barmer) Sharad Choudhary said.

The local police claimed that Golia suffered from some illness but could not ascertain how his health deteriorated in custody. The police said that only a post-mortem report (PMR) will reveal the reason of his death.

Golia’s mother blamed the police for her son’s death and questioned the role of Pachpadra police station staff.

