Three policemen picked up the victim on mere suspicion, beat him to death and then tried to dispose of the body. Two cops are now behind bars, the third died in a road mishap a week after the incident
Three policemen picked up the victim on mere suspicion, beat him to death and then tried to dispose of the body. Two cops are now behind bars, the third died in a road mishap a week after the incident
Life comes cheap in Delhi, or so it would appear once you've read about the unfortunate death of Praveen Kumar. The Rohtak resident was picked up from Nangloi in Delhi in an unknown case and mercilessly beaten up by cops at the Subzi Mandi police post in January this year. What's worse, when the victim died the policemen tried to dispose of the body, fearing action. 
On the spot Government Railway Police post at Subzi Mandi in Delhi
where the incident took place. Pic/Subhash Barolia
Justice at last
One of the cops, sub-inspector Devender Singh, died in a road mishap a week after the incident. The two other policemen, constable Ram Niwas and home guard Jagdeep, have been sent to the Tihar Jail after the confirmation of their involvement in the case. 
Police work: Sarai Rohilla Railway police station in Delhi where the
case was registered. Pic/Subhash Barolia
After the matter came to light, a case was registered (FIR number 2/2011) under sections 302, 365 and 120 of IPC at the Sarai Rohilla Railway police station in north Delhi. The victim's brother Sagar is the complainant. The investigations were handed over to the anti-kidnapping wing of Crime Branch.
When Crime Branch started investigating the matter they sensed the involvement of the cops. During the probe it was discovered that the three policemen had picked up the victim from Nangloi railway station on suspicion of involvement in a case. He had come to the area to visit his sister. They took him to his native village to find out more clues about him. However, the cops discovered that he had been disowned by his family and the village due to his habit of drinking. But no evidence of his involvement in any illegal activity could be found, nor did he have any police record.
Beaten to death
"After the cops couldn't get anything from his village, they brought him back and beat him in the lock-up of Subzi Mandi police post. He was killed by them and then they disposed of his body in a drain near Mundka area," Crime Branch sources said.
A few days later, the corpse was found out by a local resident who informed the police about it. Crime Branch conducted a DNA test of the body, which matched with the victim's father. "Soon after the DNA report confirmed his identity, Crime Branch arrested the two police officers earlier this month and sent them to Tihar Jail on May 20," police sources said. Devender Singh, who was a sub-inspector and was deputed as police post in-charge was also involved in the case and he was the most senior among the three cops. Delhi police's senior officials, however, remained tight-lipped on the whole matter and didn't comment on it even after repeated attempts to elicit answers by MiD DAY. The two cops have also been suspended by the department and an inquiry is going on against them.
Unfair cop?
Sources have revealed that a Crime Branch inspector, who was initially probing the case, was removed from it after a month as it was suspected that he was favouring the culprits.
Ray of hope
On December 7, stringent punishment, including life imprisonment or capital punishment, for death caused by torture in custody was recommended by a Parliamentary panel. The Select Committee on the Prevention of Torture Bill has also sought to bring employees of government-run educational institutions, government companies and organisations under the ambit of public servants. It has recommended provision of compensation of at least Rs one lakh to the victims of torture.
Excesses by police
Inhuman treatment
On June 9, 2010 a woman complained to the commissioner of police about torture in the Rajouri Garden police post in west Delhi. The lady alleged that she was told to strip in front of her 12-year-old son on May 22 and then the cops asked her to have sex with her son. The cops were investigating a theft and two sons of the victim were accused in the case. The victims were allegedly beaten up mercilessly at the police post. After the reports in MiD DAY four cops were suspended.
Arm-twisted
An auto driver in Delhi alleged that the police bent the law to get information out of him about the accused in the DU student gang rape case on November 3 last year. The victim was a neighbour of a suspect and the cops allegedly beat him up on November 15 to get the address of the accused. The victim, Wasim, had a fractured arm, allegedly because of the torture. The cops didn't react to the PCR call made by the victim's wife and Wasim went back home even after having a medical test.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
