12 policement suspended in Kanpur

A Dalit youth was found dead in custody on Thursday, triggering anger and protest among locals in Kanpur district. Twelve policemen were suspended following the incident.

Five police personnel were also booked for murder in the case.

Kamal Valmiki was picked up by police in Chakeri area late on Tuesday night for questioning in a case of loot. Another person Raju Mistry was held along with him.

On Thursday, Kamal, 26, was found dead in police custody by his sister. His relatives and angry locals staged a protest outside the Ahirwan police station and pelted stones at it. They alleged Kamal died due to police torture. But the police claimed that he committed suicide.

The protesters also blocked traffic on National Highway 2, and were engaged in an altercation with police, who resorted to lathi charge and used tear gas to disperse them.

The five constables who brought Kamal to custody have been booked, police said, while the entire staff of the police station – sub-inspector Yogendra Solanki and 11 constables – were suspended. Meanwhile, Mistry has gone missing and senior officials are probing the matter.

Kanpur Senior Superintendent of Police Shalabh Mathur said the station in charge and other police officials present at the time of incident were suspended. A case has been registered under sections of murder and SC/ST Act on a complaint from the family members of the dead, he said.