FIR against four cops in abetment case

Bhopal, mar 31: Court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) in Sagar district registered a case under various sections of the IPC against four cops including an ASI for allegedly abetting a vendor to commit suicide in police custody. Earlier, the Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission, after hearing the case, had suggested reforms in police’s working and also recommended constitution of a special vigilance team to inspect police stations across the state.

The Commission had also directed the state government to pay Rs 1 lakh as interim relief to deceased’s kin. The court of JMFC Sagar, Rampratap Singh registered a case under sections 323, 347, 218, 166, 306 and 34 of the IPC against ASI Purushottam Tiwari, head constable Lalmani Verma, constable duo Ramkumar and Arun Kumar.  Notably, cops picked up a vendor, Ramlal Sahu son of Rai Singh (50) on April 1, 2007 at Bandri tehsil of Khurai district following a scuffle with some locals. The vendor was lodged in police station under section 151 of the CrPC, where he allegedly committed suicide by strangulating self on April 2, 2007.

His wife alleged that the man was framed on the behest of a few influential persons and the cops demanded Rs 1,000 bribe for releasing him before he resorted to extreme step. A double bench comprising Chairman DM Dharmadhikari and member Justice NS Azad in the past suggested necessary reforms in police’s working and Rs 1 lakh to deceased’s kin. Now, registration of case against the cops by the Court has paved way to administrative and disciplinary action against them.