Alwar ''lynching'' victim seems to have died in police custody: Rajasthan minister

GURUGRAM/JAIPUR: Akbar Khan appears to have died in police custody due to negligence, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said on Tuesday, ordering a judicial probe into the Alwar "lynching" case.

Sumedha Sharma & Yash Goyal
Tribune News Service
Gurugram/Jaipur, July 24

Akbar Khan appears to have died in police custody due to negligence, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said on Tuesday, ordering a judicial probe into the Alwar "lynching" case.

"The police have submitted a report based on evidences to the ACGM court to appoint a judge to probe the case,” Kataria told reporters after his visit to Alwar.

"It appeared to be a custodial death. Cops on duty did not take the injured Akbar to a hospital that was 300 metres away. They delayed it further by dropping two cows at a gaushala first. Had the injured been provided medical aid a couple of hours before, he would have been probably survived,” Kataria said.

The development comes hours after an autopsy report said Akbar Khan died of physical trauma owing to internal bleeding caused by apparent brutal thrashing.

The Body of Khan, according to the report prepared by a medical board of three doctors, bore at least 12 marks of serious injuries, two fractures in arms and legs, two broken ribs and numerous bruises on facial area.

There was no stabbing or signs of use of any sharp object but he had been beaten up repeatedly with some blunt objects like sticks which led to serious internal injuries and profuse bleeding.

“At this stage, we cannot say for how long the victim was alive after being thrashed and the same might be clear after visceral examination report. The body did not have much mud on it as it was cleaned with water but had injuries on face,” said Dr RK Gupta, one of the members of board.

The report has put Ramgarh cops in the dock as the picture of the deceased taken after being rescued showed no signs of facial injuries which are mentioned in post-mortem report.

Ramgarh Community Health Centre in charge Dr Hasan Ali Khan had in his statement to the inquiry panel highlighted that the body which was first brought to him was badly bruised and was in much worse condition than the photograph concerned clicked by the eyewitness who called police.

“The pictures showed a man who was nowhere headed for death and had much less thrashing marks and scars though the body brought was bruised and badly injured. Prima facie it seems that owing to rib
fracture there was fluid retention in punctured lungs,” said Dr Khan in his statement.