KANPUR: Seven persons, including six policemen and a duty doctor of Kanpur Dehat district hospital, were booked on Wednesday in connection with the death of 27-year-old man, Balwant, in police custody in the district late Monday night. Till now, 11 policemen have been suspended in this regard.
On the complaint of Angad Singh, the uncle of Balwant Singh, an FIR has been registered under IPC sections 302 (murder), 147 (guilty of rioting) 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) at the Kotwali police station.
The cops who have been booked are Shivli police station in charge Rajesh Kumar Singh, Rania police station in charge Shiv Prakash Singh, Maitha outpost in charge Gyan Prakash Pandey, SOG in charge Prashant Gautam, a constable deputed with the SWAT, Mahesh Gupta, and one unknown member of the SOG team, along with the duty doctor of the district hospital.
Angad Singh in his complaint stated that on December 12, Balwant was returning home with his cousin Guddu from Rania Mill, where he had gone to get fodder, when some policemen forcefully made him sit in their four-wheeler. When Guddu tried to protest, he was threatened and chased away. Police had said on Tuesday that Balwant himself had come to the police station to record his statement after coming to know that he had been named by two robbery accused as an accomplice.
“Then I got information that my nephew Balwant Singh was beaten to death by the same policemen,” stated Balwant’s uncle in his complaint. He also said that the in charge of Rania police station had blessings of senior officers and also doubted the role of the doctors of the district hospital.
On the demand of the family members of the deceased, Balwant’s post mortem was conducted in Kanpur Nagar late Tuesday night. On the orders of the district magistrate, the CMO formed a panel of three doctors in which Dr Dipendra Uttam of Sarsaul CHC and Dr Devendra Singh Rajput of Ghatampur CHC were included.
The autopsy was conducted under the supervision of postmortem in charge Dr Navneet Chowdhary. Videography of the post mortem was also done. Preliminary findings reportedly indicated that Balwant died of police torture. Some videos are also going viral on social media showing injury marks on Balwant’s body. However, TOI does not confirm the veracity of these videos.
Health department sources said nearly 22 injury marks had been found on the deceased’s body. However, there is no official statement as of now on this yet.
ADG Bhanu Bhaskar said that on the demand of the relatives, the autopsy of the body has been performed in Kanpur Nagar. “Further action will be taken on the basis of the autopsy report,” said the ADG.
Meanwhile, state minister Pratibha Shukla told reporters that the chief minister would be briefed about the matter. “The policemen who are guilty will be severely dealt with as per law,” he added.
BJP MP from Akbarpur, Devendra Singh Bhole, alleged that the senior police officers of Kanpur Dehat protected the corrupt.
Meanwhile, after the post mortem Balwant's body reached Lalpur Saraiya village late on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, the family members refused to perform the last rites and demanded that CM Yogi Adityanath should come to the village and the accused police personnel arrested without any delay.
“The wife of the deceased should be given a government job and the family be given an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore. Along with this, we demand an inquiry a retired judge into the premeditated murder," the family said further.
A letter in this regard was given to ADM administration and ASP. Later, Kanpur Dehat district magistrate Neha Jain and superintendent of police Suniti reached Lalpur Saraiya village and tried to pacify the family members, but they remained adamant on their demand.
The police had picked up Balwant Singh (27), late Monday night in connection with a robbery incident, wherein a trader was looted in Shivli Kotwali police station area on December 6, 2022. Police said that two persons who had been arrested named Balwant as an accomplice.
