Panchkula, June 19: A 24-year-old man arrested for allegedly stealing from a temple was found dead inside the Raipur Rani police station on Wednesday evening, sparking allegations of police brutality and prompting an official investigation.
Police said the man died by suicide after locking himself inside the malkhana (station storeroom) around 4:30 p.m. His body was later shifted to the mortuary for a post-mortem examination scheduled for Thursday.
The deceased, who was allegedly caught red-handed by locals earlier that morning, had been handed over to the police shortly after the alleged theft. Hours later, he was found dead inside the station premises.
This is the second such custodial death reported in Panchkula district this month. On June 8, an unidentified man, believed to be in his late 30s, was found hanging from a tree outside the Anti-Corruption Bureau police station in Sector 17. Police later cremated the body as unclaimed after they failed to establish his identity.
Wednesday’s death triggered protests outside Raipur Rani police station. The family of the deceased claimed he had been falsely accused and subjected to torture in custody, which they say drove him to take his own life.
“He was not a thief. He was beaten and framed,” a family member said during the protest. “We want justice and a fair investigation. This cannot be brushed aside.”
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Srishti Gupta said that the matter has been handed over to the Chief Judicial Magistrate for a thorough inquiry. “A case has been registered under Sections 305 and 331 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita,” Gupta said in an official statement.
Section 305 pertains to abetment of suicide, while Section 331 deals with voluntarily causing hurt to extract a confession or information.
“If any police official is found responsible, strict action will follow,” the DCP’s office stated.
