Man Accused of Rape Found Dead in Police Custody: Investigation Underway
In a tragic event, a 20-year-old man taken into police custody for rape and sexual harassment was found dead at the Chipyana police post on the morning of May 16th.
The man, Yogesh Kumar, worked and lived at a bakery in his village. On Tuesday, the assistant commissioner of police received a complaint from a woman co-worker accusing Yogesh of rape and sexual harassment, which allegedly happened a month and a half ago.
Despite the serious nature of the complaint, no FIR was filed. The police called Yogesh for questioning on Wednesday. The next day, at 10 am, he was found hanging from a rope in the police barracks. He was taken to a nearby hospital but was declared dead. According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), the case is being investigated following National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) guidelines.
Yogesh’s brother, Jitendra, alleged that the police demanded Rs 5 lakh for his brother’s release but he managed to give only ₹53,000. He was promised that he could see his brother the next day, only to find out that Yogesh had died.
Jitendra mentioned that his brother had a workplace dispute with the woman two months ago, which the manager had resolved. However, the woman held a grudge and vowed to ensure Yogesh’s imprisonment.
Following the incident, Police Commissioner Laxmi Singh suspended all personnel at the police post except for two under-training officers. Preliminary investigations have been ordered against several senior police officials. Additional DCP of Noida, Manish Mishra, is tasked with a detailed investigation. A post-mortem examination will be conducted with videography to ensure transparency.
Addressing the bribery allegations, Singh noted that the family had not mentioned them in their written complaint but assured that these claims would be investigated. Rajeev Kumar Sharma, a human rights activist, highlighted that taking Yogesh into custody without filing an FIR was unlawful.
Based on the family’s complaint, an FIR has been registered against the woman under Section 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code at Bisrakh police station.
This tragic incident raises serious questions about police conduct and the handling of such sensitive cases. The ongoing investigation will hopefully bring justice and clarity to the situation.
