Relative allege custodial death
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 10 (MExN): A convicted man was found dead in the ‘Male Lock-up Cell’ of East Police Station Friday, September 10. According to the police, the deceased was under police remand and was serving jail term at the Central Jail, Dimapur.
The deceased - identified as one Nazim Uddin (25 years) of Dabaka under Nawgaon, Assam - was brought on remand to the East Police station for interrogation for some other cases on September 9. The death was a result of suicide, police said.
Late Uddin was found hanging by a “ligature” suspended from the ventilation bars of the lock-up’s toilet. He was reportedly found dead only in the morning by one of the cell’s inmates.
“A piece of victim’s clothing was used for the ligature and death was apparently caused due to asphyxia”, the police report said. “Since it amounted to a judicial death, the inquest was conducted by the magistrate in the presence of independent witnesses”, the report further substantiated.
All the legal formalities including the conduct of post-mortem was video recorded as documentary evidence. A preliminary investigation ruled out any foul play as signs on the body indicated “anti-mortem hanging”.
“Further, there were 10 (ten) other inmates in the cell at the time of the incident”, the report claimed. A case of “unnatural death” has been registered. All other formalities, the report stated, as required in the event of a custodial death, including submission of report to the National Human Rights Commission has been carried out, the report further stated.
However, in contradiction to the statement from the Dimapur police, a relative of the deceased disclosed that dead was caused by physical torture. The relative on being contacted said that injury marks were evident on the body indicating assault.
Police had handed over the body of Nazim Uddin to his family after the initial magisterial inquiry and post-mortem.
His family was not allowed to take any photographs by police, the relative said, with police personnel keeping vigil over the body till its burial in the afternoon at around 3:00 pm.
Marks left by dried blood were found on the mouth, legs and neck, the relative said. The relative alleged that electric shock was also used on the deceased. Blotches found on the genitals indicated the use of electric current, the relative said.
The left hip-joint and the left shoulder-joint were also found dislocated, the relative said.
The relative further disclosed that the deceased was held in custody at the police station for the past about thirteen days.
