Three Rajasthan cops booked for ‘custody death’

Three policemen in Rajasthan’s Bikaner city were Tuesday booked for the death of a Dalit youth after he was detained and allegedly tortured at a police station last week, officials said.

Four people, including two policemen, had sustained injuries Monday as villagers in Bikaner’s Chhattargarh town clashed with police while protesting the alleged torture of Dalit youth Kishan Meghwal in police station.

“Keeping in view the villagers’ protest, a head constable and two constables who were on duty at the time when Kishan was brought to the police station have been booked under section 302 (murder)of the Indian Penal Code. Further investigation is on,” said a police officer.

The official said four youths belonging to a Dalit community had been found creating nuisance at a public place in drunken condition Friday night.

“A police patrolling team tried to catch them, but three of them escaped. Only one of them, Noralal Meghwal, was arrested but released Saturday morning,” said the officer.

However, the villagers said that police had also detained Noralal’s brother Kishan Meghwal. Kishan was missing since Saturday morning.

Villagers alleged that Kishan was kept under illegal custody at the police station Friday night and tortured. They also claimed that Kishan was dead.