Kawardha (Chhattisgarh): ASP Kawardha, Vikas Kumar, has been suspended on charges of negligence after Prashant Sahu, arrested in connection with violence following death of a local, died in police custody on Wednesday. Also, a compensation amounting to Rs 10 lakh has been announced for the victim's family.
Sahu was among the 69 accused who were arrested after violence broke out and a house was also set on fire in Lohardih. His death sparked a political furore as Congress made several serious allegations against the BJP government and Sahu's brother alleged that he died due to police torture.
At around 10 pm, Sahu's post-mortem was done in Kawardha District Hospital in the presence of Magistrate Subodh Mishra and his family members. After which, the body was sent to his native village in Lohardih.
On information, deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma reached Kawardha late in the evening and talked to the family and villagers. Later, he held a meeting with the IG, DG and jail superintendent.
Sharma said that IPS Vikas Kumar was negligent and has been suspended. Also, a compensation of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the deceased family, he added.
The deputy CM further said that custodial death is a matter of investigation. Rajnandgaon IG Deepak Jha and DG were sent to investigate the matter, he added.
The doctors said that the X-ray of Sahu's hand was found to be normal and after autopsy, the viscera has been sent for forensic test. As per the jail records, there were injury marks on the five accused when they entered the jail, he added.
The villagers said that some people were beaten up on the instructions of senior officials and action is being taken against them, he said.
Apart from announcing a compensation for the victim's family, arrangements have been made for his family members to attend the funeral. The family will be provided security, Sharma added.
Last rites performed: Meanwhile, Sahu's last rites were performed in his village today. His mother Saraswati Sahu, lodged in Durg jail and younger brother, lodged in Kawardha jail, were brought to Kabirdham for the rituals. The family members alleged that Prashant was brutally beaten up at the police station due to which he died.
"Police beat us mercilessly and forcibly took us away. My brother had injury marks all over his body," Kanhaiya Sahu, brother of the deceased said.
Bhupesh Baghel attended Sahu's funeral: Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel attended Sahu's funeral. Baghel said that the injury marks found on the deceased's body clearly reveals that he was mercilessly beaten by the police. The Congress leader also alleged that the deceased's brother and mother were beaten by the police, resulting which they are unable to walk properly. Baghel has demanded that he be allowed to meet the people in jail.
Demand for government job and Rs 1 crore compensation: The victim's family has demanded a government job and financial assistance amounting to Rs 1 crore as compensation for their loss.
On Sunday morning, Shivprasad Sahu was found hanging from a tree about 10 km away from his village in Lohardih. People protested outside former Sarpanch Raghunath Sahu's house blaming him for the death. Later, they started assaulting members of his family and set his house on fire.
A cylinder kept in Raghunath Sahu's house exploded and the former Sarpanch died. With the situation deteriorating, additional police force was called in and 69 people were arrested while a case was registered against a total of 160 people.
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