Mumbai: 26-Yr-Old Beaten To Death By Police, Five Cops Suspended

Five cops including two assistant police inspectors and a sub-inspector of Wadala Truck Terminal police station, Mumbai were suspended following the alleged custodial death of a 26-year-old pharmaceutical salesman on the night of October 28.

The death led to huge protests from Antop Hill, where the victim Vijay Singh’s lived. The protestors demanded a case for murder be filed against the cops involved in his alleged torture. Police used lathi-charge to disperse the protestors.

CCTV cameras inside the station which could have been prime evidence to unwind the sequence of events turned out to be defunct.

Why was Vijay Singh Arrested?

A patrol team nabbed Vijay Singh after he had chased a couple. The duo known to him had called the police and accused him of harassing them. He was allegedly pointing the headlight of his bike towards the couple when they were seated together.

The family alleges that Vijay was beaten to death by the police in the custody. They also alleged that Vijay was denied medical treatment when he complained of chest pain.

Vijay’s friend – Shivam Singh and Ankit Mishra had followed the police vehicle in which Vijay was taken to the police station. Shivam told media person that the couple who had accused Vijay of harassing them beat Vijay in front of police officers.

Vijay and two friends were held in lockup. According to Vijay’s family, around 11:30 pm Vijay complained of chest pain and asked for a glass of water to the police officers. The cops allegedly laughed off on his situation and said that he was trying to gain sympathy.

Vijay’s sister – Dimpy said that the police were brutally beating Vijay with a belt when the couple was filing their complaint. She alleged that at this point, Vijay had his first heart attack. Half an hour later, when the cops made him sit on a bench, Vijay got his second heart attack.

Vijay’s friend Sushil Pandey said, that though outside the station, police vans were parked and an ambulance was just a call away, the cops called for an Ola cab. The cop took Vijay to Sion hospital at 2 am.

A post mortem examination was done at JJ Hospital in the presence of a metropolitan magistrate. On the night of October 28, the body was handed over to the family.

Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Barve said that he had suspended the five cops due to their carelessness. He said that if a suspect is detained and has complained of chest pain then officers present at the station should immediately provide medical aid. The city police had asked the crime branch to investigate the alleged custodial death further.

Also Read: Delhi Court Convicts 5 UP Cops For Custodial Death In 2006; Sentence To Be Announced Later