DGP suspends cop over ASI’s death

ON SATURDAY, HE JOINED TRAFFIC POLICE STATION FROM RAMGARH STATION AND ON SUNDAY, ON THE VERY FIRST DAY OF DUTY, HE DIED AFTER VOMITING

RANCHI: Jharkhand DGP Ajay Kumar Singh suspended the officer in charge of Ramgarh Town police station, Ajay Kumar Sahu after the home department transferred district superintendent of police (SP) Dr Vimal Kumar following the unnatural death of assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Rahul Kumar Singh during traffic duty under mysterious circumstances on Saturday.

This is the first time a DGP has suspended an officer-incharge in such a way, a police official said, informing about the action. “First, the home department shunted the SP, and then the DGP suspended the officerin-charge. The SP was transferred to police headquarters while the OC was suspended. An administrative order was issued later on Saturday evening,” the official said.

Asked whether the reason behind the death of the ASI could be ascertained, the DGP said: “I have asked the DIG of the Hazaribagh range to probe as there is no SP in the district. Anything can be said in the matter only when a report comes,” he said.

A police official explained the incident. “ASI Rahul Kumar Singh was earlier posted at Ramgarh police station. On February 21, a youth named Aniket died by suicide in the bathroom inside the Ramgarh police station lockup. In this case, two ASIs and the station clerk were suspended. Rahul Kumar Singh was the investigator of the theft case in which Aniket was brought. It is said a lot of pressure was being put on Singh regarding the case diary. It is said that due to pressure Singh fell ill. He was on leave for the last 20-25 days. On Saturday, he joined the traffic police station from Ramgarh police station and on Sunday, on the very first day of duty, he died after vomiting around 4:30 PM.”

Family members of the deceased could not be contacted for a comment.Jharkhand Police Man Association office bearers remained tight-lipped when contacted for their comments.

“What can I tell you about the matter? The ASI who died was our association member, the same as the OC who was suspended after his death. It is very difficult for us to say anything about the matter,” association vice president Akhileshwar Pandey said. However, a police official said: “A case of unnatural death has been registered in the matter and the body was sent for autopsy at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences. The autopsy report is yet to come.”