Man dies in police custody in Ghaziabad, two cops suspended

Ghaziabad, June 13 (IANS) A middle-aged man died while two constables were taking him to a police station here Wednesday, said the police. The policemen have been suspended and booked.

Constables Rakesh and Surya Kant were taking Vinayak Pal to the police station when he collapsed and was later pronounced dead.

"The constables made a mistake by taking into custody an unwell man on a bailable warrant that too when the family had pleaded for mercy," said Ghaziabad Senior Superintendent of Police Prashant Kumar.

"They have been suspended with immediate effect and a criminal case under sections 304 (culpable homicide), 504 (intentional insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered on the complaint of the son of the deceased," he said.

According to a police official, constables Rakesh and Surya Kant barged into Pal's house in Shakarpuri in the morning and took him into custody. A magistrate's court had issued a bailable warrant against him pertaining to a case of quarrelling in 2008, they said.

Although the family said he was unwell, the constables made him sit on their motorcycle, but midway, he fell off, said the official.

The constables left the spot and Pal was taken by family members to hospital where he was declared brought dead, said the official.

Later in the day, police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse a crowd outside the Vijay Nagar police station which was protesting against the death.