Youth dies in police custody, protesters block road

GHAZIABAD - Angered residents of Loni town in Ghaziabad district vandalised vehicles and blocked the Delhi-Saharanpur road Tuesday after a 19-year-old youth was allegedly beaten to death in police custody. Police said the youth had complained of uneasiness and was taken to a Delhi hospital where he died.

According to police, Rishi, son of Sher Singh, a resident of Jatav Colony Loni was picked up for interrogation. During questioning, he complained of uneasiness and was taken to a local hospital where his condition was termed critical.

On the doctors’ advice, he was taken to the Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital in Delhi where doctors declared him dead. When Rishi complained of pain, his family members were informed but no one came, therefore he was taken to hospital by police itself.

However, his father alleged that police picked up his son without any reason.

He said Rishi was playing cards with his friends when a police team reached the colony around 6 p.m. Monday and took him with them without informing anybody. Police suspected his involvement in a crime and tortured him so badly that he succumbed to his injuries in the police custody, he added.

Sher Singh said when they reached the police station, police misbehaved with them and threatened to book the entire family in grave offences.

When the news of Rishi’s death spread in the area, a huge crowd gathered on the Delhi-Saharanpur road, shouting slogans against the police. The angered residents damaged about a dozen public and private vehicles.

When police failed to clear the road, the provincial armed constabulary (PAC) and the police baton-charged the mob, leading to some women sustaining injuries. However, increasing anger over the police action saw more crowds come out and continue the road blockade.

“We are trying to control the situation. Additional forces have been sent to the spot,” Superintendent of Police (City) A.K. Vijaita said.