VISHVENDU JAIPURIAR
Hazaribag, Jan 15: Two police officers have been suspended in the mysterious death of businessman Sunil Gupta on Sunday. An FIR has also been lodged against them in Sadar police station, which notably, is their own. This action was taken after pressure from Sadar MLA Manish Jaiswal of BJP.
Notably, after being arrested by a team of Sadar police late for purchasing stolen essential commodities late Saturday evening, Gupta’s family was informed of him being severely injured. When brought to Hzb Aarogyam, a private hospital with a broken backbone, Gupta was declared brought dead. Gupta’s wife has charged police of police brutality resulting in death.
MLA Jaiswal went to police station with relatives of Gupta. He asked several questions to Sadar DSP Mahesh Prajapati including, “Why did your team go to Gupta’s house with the complainant? Why did they go to arrest Gupta without an arrest warrant late in the evening?”
Jailswal further said that it is a clear case of custodial death and the police need to lodge an FIR against the guilty. Later an FIR was lodged against two ASIs including Nasim Siddique and Seema Hembrom. Along with this, they were also suspended.
The DSP further informed, “We will investigate this case thoroughly to reach to facts and if any evidence found against duo, we will take further action.”
Gupta’s son and daughter showed injuries on Gupta’s foot, hand and back. “His dead body has proof of him being tortured by policemen. We also feel threatened by police and so we want intervention of senior officials,” they said.
Sources have claimed that police brutality has become a matter of concern in several police stations in the district. People have further confirmed presence of middlemen at police stations and that senior officials are often aware of such issues but avoid them, in turn giving juniors free reign.
