22-year-old BTech student dead after police assault in Bhopal; 2 constables suspended

A 22-year-old BTech student died after being beaten, allegedly by police personnel, in the early hours of Friday in Madhya Pradesh’s capital, Bhopal, officials said.

A video clip showed a policeman holding Udit Gaayke, while another is seen hitting him with a stick.

Constables Santosh Bamaniya and Saurabh Arya have been suspended in connection with the case, and further action will follow after the post-mortem report is received, Bhopal Zone 2 DCP Vivek Singh said.

Gaayke was rushed to hospital by his friends where doctors declared him dead, he said.

His friends said they were partying in Indrapuri last night. One of them was dropping Gaayke home around 1.30am, when the latter spotted police and started running into an alley, they added.

The two policemen chased him down and beat him. He was later found with his shirt torn and bruises on the body, his friends said. They claimed the policemen sought Rs 10,000 when asked to stop the assault.

“Details will be clear after the post-mortem report is received. Statements of family members are being recorded. The case is being probed by a City Superintendent of Police level officer,” DCP Singh said.

Another official said Gaayke’s parents work in Bhopal, while his brother-in-law is a Deputy Superintendent of Police in Balaghat district.