Autopsy reveals 14 injuries to UP vendor beaten to death by cops

KANPUR: A post-mortem examination on Saturday revealed 14 injury marks on the body of the teenage vegetable vendor who was allegedly beaten to death by policemen and a home guard in Unnao’s Bangarmau town on Friday.

Unnao’s additional superintendent of police (ASP) Shashi Shekhar Singh on Saturday said there were several injuries on his body. “I do not have the report at this time. The information we have received confirms that the body bore injuries,” he said.

Those privy to the autopsy revealed that apart from the body, injuries were noticed on the head. The nature of the head injuries suggested they were caused by boots, they said.

The vendor was assaulted on a road and then at the Bangarmau police station on Friday afternoon for alleged violation of the partial coronavirus curfew in force in the state, it was alleged. As his condition worsened, he was taken to the Bangarmau community health centre where he was declared dead on arrival.

A case of murder was registered against two policemen and a home guard after the alleged incident, which sparked a series of widespread protests. Police officers struggled to pacify local people who put up a road blockade, which continued till late Friday night.

The blockade ended after officers on the spot gave a cheque for Rs 2 lakh as compensation, agreed to request the government for a compensation of Rs 50 lakh and assured early arrest of the accused. The two constables were suspended and the home guard sacked.

Though the case was lodged with Bangarmau police in Unnao, the investigation was handed over to inspector Indrapal Singh who is currently posted at the office of the Unnao superintendent of police. Officials said the decision was taken to maintain transparency in the investigation so that it could not be influenced at the local level.