The Crossbill News Desk
In a case that has triggered outrage in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda district, three Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel have been booked for murder following the custodial death of a 35-year-old Dalit man, identified as Sanjay Kumar Sonkar.
His family has accused the RPF of subjecting him to custodial torture after picking him up in connection with a theft case, The Indian Express reported.
Officials said Sonkar was taken into custody from his home on Tuesday morning over the alleged theft of oil from a goods train stationed at Barua Chak railway station. A few hours later, the RPF team rushed him to the government medical college, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Senior Commandant RPF, Chandra Mohan Mishra, confirmed that the three personnel — sub-inspectors Surendra Kumar and Karan Singh Yadav, and constable Amit Kumar Yadav — have been suspended.
“A departmental inquiry has been initiated into the charges of custodial death,” Mishra told the newspaper.
Inspector (Crime) at Gonda City Kotwali police station, Sabhajeet Singh, said a murder case has been registered against the trio. Sonkar’s brother, Raju Sonkar, lodged a complaint alleging that the RPF personnel took Sanjay from his home and tortured him in custody.
“The family later learned that Sanjay had died and his body was at the hospital,” Singh said, adding that according to the preliminary medical report, the victim was “brought dead” to the hospital.
Providing details about the theft case, Mishra said the Gonda RPF post had earlier filed a case against three suspects under the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act after an oil consignment was reported stolen from a goods train at Barua Chak.
“During investigation, the RPF team obtained a video showing three men stealing oil from the train and hiding in a nearby sugarcane field. Based on clues, the RPF team caught one of the suspects who divulged Sanjay’s name,” Mishra said.
He added that the team subsequently picked up Sanjay and recovered oil from his possession.
Mishra further claimed that “while the recovery procedure was underway, the accused’s health condition deteriorated and he was rushed to the hospital where he died.” He said the three RPF personnel have been sent to the RPF Lines, and further action will depend on the findings of the police investigation.
Circle Officer (City) Anand Kumar Rai said the autopsy report stated that the “cause of death is not ascertained,” and that the viscera had been preserved for forensic examination.
His family has accused the RPF of subjecting him to custodial torture after picking him up in connection with a theft case, The Indian Express reported.
Officials said Sonkar was taken into custody from his home on Tuesday morning over the alleged theft of oil from a goods train stationed at Barua Chak railway station. A few hours later, the RPF team rushed him to the government medical college, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Senior Commandant RPF, Chandra Mohan Mishra, confirmed that the three personnel — sub-inspectors Surendra Kumar and Karan Singh Yadav, and constable Amit Kumar Yadav — have been suspended.
“A departmental inquiry has been initiated into the charges of custodial death,” Mishra told the newspaper.
Inspector (Crime) at Gonda City Kotwali police station, Sabhajeet Singh, said a murder case has been registered against the trio. Sonkar’s brother, Raju Sonkar, lodged a complaint alleging that the RPF personnel took Sanjay from his home and tortured him in custody.
“The family later learned that Sanjay had died and his body was at the hospital,” Singh said, adding that according to the preliminary medical report, the victim was “brought dead” to the hospital.
Providing details about the theft case, Mishra said the Gonda RPF post had earlier filed a case against three suspects under the Railway Property (Unlawful Possession) Act after an oil consignment was reported stolen from a goods train at Barua Chak.
“During investigation, the RPF team obtained a video showing three men stealing oil from the train and hiding in a nearby sugarcane field. Based on clues, the RPF team caught one of the suspects who divulged Sanjay’s name,” Mishra said.
He added that the team subsequently picked up Sanjay and recovered oil from his possession.
Mishra further claimed that “while the recovery procedure was underway, the accused’s health condition deteriorated and he was rushed to the hospital where he died.” He said the three RPF personnel have been sent to the RPF Lines, and further action will depend on the findings of the police investigation.
Circle Officer (City) Anand Kumar Rai said the autopsy report stated that the “cause of death is not ascertained,” and that the viscera had been preserved for forensic examination.
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