Kanpur police custody death: 5 cops booked for murder, criminal intimidation

A 30-year-old businessman, who was held for questioning by the Special Operations Group (SOG) on Monday in a case of robbery in Shivli area, allegedly died in police custody in Kanpur Dehat on Tuesday. The deceased Balwant Singh’s family said that he died due to police torture. The family members demanded that the police be charged with murder and didn’t leave the mortuary.

A case of murder, and criminal intimidation was filed against five cops and few hospital authorities where the autopsy of the deceased was done. The action was taken following an uproar by the family members of Balwant who on discovering bruises on his body refused to cremate his body till action against the cops was taken.

Eventually MP BJP MP, Devendra Singh Bhole had to intervene and another autopsy was done. The first autopsy said that Balwant died of heart attack.

Bhole handed over a cheque of 4 lakh as compensation to the family members and promised to offer a job to the wife of the deceased. ”

“I have informed (Chief Minister) Yogi Adityanath about the entire case. He would also offer help. I came here for the cremation on Yogiji’s request for missing Parliament,” he said.

SP (Kanpur Dehat) Suniti has suspended nine policemen, including the in-charge of the SOG and said an inquiry panel had been formed to look into the man’s death. In latest update case has been registered against five policemen and unnamed people from the hospital where Balwant died.

The accused SHO Rajeash Singh, Thana Shivli , SHO Shivprakas Singh, Thana raniya , Sub Inspector Gyan Prakash, Police Outpost in-charge Maitha , cop Prashant Gautam SOG team ,  Mahesh Gupta of SWAT team.  have been booked under section 302 – murder,  147- rioting, 504 – intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, 506- punishment of criminal intimidation.

Accusing the district’s civic administration and police’s top officers of trying to “hide the facts” , BJP MP Bhole blamed the police officials for excesses and said that the false case against Balwant was motivated by local political rivalry.

Motorcycle-borne miscreants had robbed Chandra Bhan of jewellery and ₹2.5 lakh after hurling chilli powder into his eyes near Lalpur Saraiya village in Shivli police area. Balwant was picked up for questioning after some arrested people took his name.

Balwant Singh was picked up for questioning after three men arrested for robbing his uncle Chadra Bhan on December 6 mentioned his involvement in the crime. Balwant complained of chest pain in the early hours of Tuesday and died in the hospital, said the SP.

The family members of Balwant are satisfied with the compensation and demanded that they only wanted the cops who killed Balwant in custody to be punished.