Mumbai: Allegations of custodial death of teen surface, kin bereaved

A 17-year-old was allegedly exposed to the brutalities of Dharavi Police when he was in custody.  The Std IX student had been picked up by the police on July 12 for questioning in a mobile theft case. Allegations by his family come in the light of his death on Saturday as they allege that his death occured due to internal injuries sustained during the 22-hour illegal detention and torture. The post-mortem report on the other hand has cited leptospirosis as the reason for his death.

A mob of 300 gathered outside the hospital, as the news of his death spread like wildfire. The mob demanded immediate arrest of the guilty cops and asked that a case of murder be filed against them. Protesters created a ruckus and beat up two policemen and nine guards of the Maharashtra Security Force, whilst also vandalising five vehicles, including four police vans.

According to the family, the police picked up the minor from their home in Jay Bhavani Chawl at midnight without giving any reason. His elder brother said, “My father told me to go along with him, as cops had said they want to question him just for a few minutes.” The deceased’s father, 45, a painter, added, “We were awake till the early hours; I was repeatedly calling my older son to know what was happening, but even he didn’t know as cops had told him to wait outside the detention room.”

The entire family reached the police station on July 13 and demanded to know the reason for illegally detaining the boy to which the police retorted back by saying that he was a suspect in a mobile theft case. “I was shocked… my shy, quiet son do such a thing? No chance!” said his mother, while adding, “They allowed him to go after 22 hours, severely beaten up. At home, he complained of body pain, so we took him to a local doctor.”

The elder brother informed, “On July 15, he vomited blood; so, we took him to Sion hospital, where he was admitted in the ICU.”The family members claim that the doctors informed them that the boy was bleeding from his lungs.

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The angry mob beat up on-duty policemen, throwing stones and paver blocks at them and their police vehicles. Many constables and officers were forced to take shelter inside the hospital. The Sion police have filed a case of rioting against 100 unidentified people. The family till last evening hadn’t claimed the body, demanding suspension and arrest of the guilty officers. “I can recognise the ones who tortured my brother; I want all of them behind bars,” said the brother.

DCP (zone V) Rajiv Jain told that, “We will investigate the allegation, but to establish torture, the post-mortem has to be completed first. Doctors have told us that the deceased tested positive for leptospirosis. We are awaiting the report.” When asked about the detention, he added, “I’ve to verify this claim.”

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