Former soldiers, locals protest army man’s death in police custody in Bharatpur
BHARATPUR: PRAHALAD SINGH DIED IN POLICE CUSTODY ON AUG 22. SINGH WAS DETAINED BY THE KUMHER POLICE FOR ALLEGEDLY CREATING NUISANCE IN A DRUNKEN STATE
Hundreds of locals, including former army personnel, protested in front of Kumher police station on Sunday demanding justice for an army personnel, who had died in police custody in Bharatpur on August 22.
The protests were led by the president of Bharatpur soldier board retired colonel Ombeer Singh.
Former army personnel 53-year-old Naik (retd) Prahalad Singh died in police custody on August 22. Singh had been detained by the Kumher police for allegedly creating nuisance in a drunken state. Singh apparently hanged himself from one of the bars using a blank provided in cells, district inspector general Malini Agar- wal had said.
Prahalad Singh, who had joined the army on October 12, 1983, had fought in the 1999 Kargil war and retired from the 17 Rajput Regiment in 2000. His son, Sagar Singh, had registered a complaint against the police on August 23, under section 302, after his father was found dead. Sagar had filed the complaint against seven police personnel — station house officer Vijay Meena, assistant sub inspector Omprakash, constables Govind Singh, Samay Singh, Kamal Singh, Kailash Singh and Devendra Singh.
The police officials later had ordered a judicial inquiry into the death. The family members and locals are holding protests against the police.
“The police and health officials are not giving us the postmortem report,” said 28-year- old Sagar Singh. “On August 22, I had gone to the field with my father to save our crops from stray cattle late in the night. Seven police personnel from Kumher police came in a jeep on Bharatpur-Kumher mega highway. They caught my father and took him to the police station. I informed my family about the arrest. My family reached the police station and requested them to release my father, but the police were beating him up in the lock up,” said 28-year-old Sagar Singh.
“The police are involved in corruption and have killed an innocent army man while he was in police custody. We are demanding justice for the deceased and legal action against the accused,” said president of soldier welfare board retired colonel Ombeer Singh.
Former soldiers, including locals, have held candle marches seeking justice.
“Police arrested him and brutally beat him up. Our agitation against the police will continue till we get justice,” said Ombeer Singh. “The protesters wanted to know about the investigation. They have been convinced to meet the investigation officer on a working day,” additional superintendent of police Suresh Kumar Khinchi said.