Jul
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Mob goes on rampage after custodial death…
July 16, 2006 | Comments Off on Mob goes on rampage after custodial death…
An angry mob vandalized a Firozpur police station on June 28th in reaction to the alleged suicide of 20-year-old Dalit Madan Lal (alias Tinku) while in police custody. The crowd blocked traffic around the station, threw stones at the building and destroyed windows of police vehicles.
The police arrested Lal earlier that morning on a complaint filed by junk dealer Joginder (alias Biloo), who “caught [Lal] red-handed while [Lal] was attempting theft at his shop.” Two hours later, the Basti Shekhan resident was rushed to the local Civil Hospital. Doctors declared that he was “brought dead.”
SSP Aprit Shukla said Tinku committed suicide by hanging himself in the toilet using his shirt.
However:
[The] parents of the deceased charged police personnel with thrashing their son to such an extent that he died in police custody. Meanwhile, two cops have been suspended.
The mysterious death of Madan Lal holds added controversy due to his title of “Dalit boy.” A Dalit, otherwise known as an “untouchable,” is the lowest caste in India’s four caste system. This caste’s history is marked by systemic discrimination. Although the Indian government officially abolished the caste system in the 1960s, this trend against Dalits continues today.
At press time, no inquiry was made into the custodial death. The suspension of two officers seems an afterthought to the allegations of beating by Lal’s family.
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