AGRA: In an alleged case of custodial death , entire Sikandara police station of Agra city was booked for murder as a 32-year-old man died in police station after he was tortured in front of his 55-year-old mother. An inspector and two sub-inspectors have also been suspended.

The victim, Hemant Kumar alias Raju Gupta, was picked up by police from his rented house in Narendra Enclave on Gailana Road on Wednesday evening after his neighbour alleged that he had stolen jewellery worth Rs 7 lakh from his house.

Raju’s mother Reenu Lata said, “My son was mentally weak and used to work as a help at Anshul’s chemical shop. On Wednesday, Anshul alleged that my son had stolen jewellery from his house and handed him over to police, who later rained lathis on him in the lock-up in front of me as I pleaded for mercy.”

Her husband, Om Prakash Gupta, a bank manager with SBI, had passed away in 2001. The mother and son were living together in a rented house, while Reenu’s two married daughters live in Vrindavan and in Delhi.

“Policemen killed my only son in front of me inside the police station. On Thursday morning, they also took me to the police station and tortured my son as I was made to watch it. They later dropped me back home around 6 pm, but kept my son in the lock-up. At 9pm, I was informed by cops that my son is dead,” the 55-year-old said.

On Friday, police videographed Raju’s post-mortem. The autopsy report said Raju’s death was caused due to myocardial infarction (heart attack) and minor injuries on shoulder, arms and legs.

Speaking with TOI, senior superintendent of police Amit Pathak said, “Three cops, including inspector Rishipal, sub-inspectors Anuj Sirohi and Tejveer Singh have been suspended and an FIR has been lodged against Sikandra police station and two of the victim’s neighbours, Anshul Pratap Singh and Vivek.”

According to preliminary probe, before handing over Raju to police, Anshul and Vivek had assaulted him with lathis.

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In Video: Sikandara police station of Agra booked for custodial death