Youth dies in lock-up, five cops suspended

LUCKNOW : A 25-year-old theft attempt suspect died inside the lock-up of the Gomti Nagar extension police station here on Friday morning. Police officials said, suspect’s body was found hanging and initial findings suggested that he committed suicide. An inquiry has been ordered to probe into the death and five policemen were suspended for negligence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (east) Somen Barma said the deceased was identified as Sitapur resident Umesh Gupta. He said Gupta operated an e-rickshaw in Lucknow and stayed here in a rented house in Khargapur, Gomti Nagar extension.

He said Gupta was caught being suspected of attempted theft, when he entered a partially constructed house in Kushalpuri colony near Khargapur.

Barma said that the caretaker of the house informed the owner, retired DIG Uday Shankar Jaiswal, who informed police control room. Barma said that the suspect was brought to the police station and put in the lock-up around 5.30 am. “He hung himself with a belt inside the lock-up while further proceedings against Gupta were under process. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead,” he stated.

Officiating Lucknow CP, Sanjay Singhal said that five police personnel, including the police station in-charge Brijesh Kumar, a sub-inspector and three constables have been suspended for negligence , while the body has been sent for a post-mortem examination. He said an FIR will also be registered if the victim’s family members file a complaint.