A youth died under suspicious circumstances while in police custody in Muzaffarpur, Bihar, leading to protests by his family and villagers at the local police station. The family alleges that the police beat him to death.
The deceased has been identified as Shivam Jha, a resident of Kalwari Chandrabhawan village, from the Kantti police station area.
The incident took place after Shivam was arrested on charges of motorcycle theft. The police claim that Shivam, along with several of his friends, was detained for questioning. They say that during this time, he allegedly committed suicide in the lock-up.
“Shivam was arrested a few days ago on charges of bike theft, and during questioning, he took his own life,” said a police spokesperson.
However, the family and villagers have rejected the police’s version and claim that Shivam was tortured and murdered by the police. They gathered at the police station in large numbers, protesting the death.
“The police beat him to death. They are responsible for his death. We want justice,” the family told media, visibly upset.
The situation escalated, with protesters entering the police station and causing damage to property. The police responded by sending additional forces to the site.
Upon receiving the news, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sushil Kumar, Rural SP Vidya Sagar, and Deputy SP (West) Abhishek Anand arrived at the station to calm the crowd.
“We are here to speak with the angry protesters and assure them that the investigation will be thorough,” SSP Sushil Kumar said. The police maintain that the death was a suicide, but the family insists that the police are responsible. “Shivam died in custody, and the police are to blame for it,” said the grieving relatives.
The authorities have called for an investigation, and an FSL team is expected to visit the scene for further examination. The body will be sent for a post-mortem.
Heavy police presence has been deployed at the station, and efforts are ongoing to maintain control of the situation.
