Kanpur Jail Death Sparks Family Protest, Police Deny Assault Claims
The family members of a prisoner, who died under suspicious circumstances in Kanpur jail, staged a protest outside the Military Camp police outpost in the Juhi police station area on Thursday night. They alleged that police assault led to his death, creating tension in the area for nearly three to four hours.
Details of the Incident and Arrest
The deceased, identified as Ranjeet, had been arrested on March 10 in connection with the theft of hardware goods from a transport company in Juhi. According to police, he was later sent to jail after a medical examination, which reportedly showed no injuries. The case involves the theft of hardware goods worth around Rs 2 lakh from outside a transport office near Juhi Military Camp.
Shyam Shukla, a resident of Kidwai Nagar who runs the transport business, informed police that the consignment had been booked on March 1 by Chabra Transport from Aligarh. The goods were allegedly stolen late that night by three men who arrived in an e-rickshaw. When the consignment did not reach Jaunpur, the trader contacted the transport operator, leading to a police case being registered.
Police Response and Medical Treatment
Using CCTV footage, police arrested Ranjeet and another accused, Dharmendra, on March 10. DCP South Deependranath Chaudhary stated that Ranjeet had been sent to jail after the medical examination. Police said he died a day after being lodged there, with his health deteriorating in the evening. He was first treated at the jail hospital and later referred to Ursala Hospital, where he died during treatment the same night.
After receiving information about his death, family members gathered outside the outpost and raised allegations that Ranjeet had been beaten by police at the time of his arrest. They claimed this worsened his condition and resulted in his death.
Protest and Demands for Action
The protest continued late into the night, with family members demanding action. ACP Babupurwa Dilip Singh reached the spot and tried to calm the protesters, but they persisted. Police said further action would depend on the postmortem findings, maintaining that the initial medical report showed no injuries.
Key Points:
- Ranjeet arrested on March 10 for theft of Rs 2 lakh hardware goods.
- Died in jail under suspicious circumstances, family alleges police assault.
- Protest lasted 3-4 hours outside Military Camp police outpost in Juhi.
- Police deny assault claims, cite medical report with no injuries.
- Postmortem results awaited to determine further action.
