Police station set on fire after man dies in custody

LUCKNOW - A mob clashed with policemen and set a police station on fire in Uttar Pradesh’s Auraiya district Saturday after a man died in custody, an official said.

A large number of locals in the district’s Bela town, some 200 km from Lucknow, resorted to vandalism and arson when they came to know about the death of Ram Ladese, who was arrested a few days ago on charges of theft.

While police claimed Ladese, 35, committed suicide Saturday afternoon in the lock-up, locals alleged he died of physical torture and after the death, police hanged him to make it look like a suicide.

“Protesters pelted stones at police, destroyed furniture and other property of the Bela police station by setting it on fire,” police inspector Subhash Singh told reporters in Auraiya.

He said additional security personnel have been deployed in the town and senior police officials are camping in the area.

Police are yet to to arrest anyone in connection with the protests.