Snatcher’s death in lock-up: 2 cops booked for negligence

Ludhiana: A day after a

snatcher

allegedly committed suicide in the police lock-up, two cops deployed in Salem Tabri police station were booked for causing death by negligence on Monday.

Importantly, the family of the deceased — Ashish Kumar, 35 of Goraya — has not suspected any foul play, while describing him as a drug addict.

The FIR has been lodged against head constable Gurjeet Singh, who is munshi at Salem Tabri police station and Punjab home guard Ashok Masih under Section 304-A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

ASI jatinder Singh and additional munshi Mukesh Kumar have also been transferred to Police Lines.

Ashish had been arrested on Friday with seven snatched mobiles, one sharp-edged weapon and a bike. He was sent to 3-day police remand but on Sunday, he allegedly hanged himself from the girder in the lock-up using a bed sheet.

Ashish’s brother

Manu Kumar

, talking to TOI, said, “Ashish fell into bad company at a young age and took to crime to get easy money. He had left the house long back and would rarely come home. Ashish was married and had an 11-year-old son and 5-year-old daughter. About three months ago, Ashish’s wife left him and took along their daughter as she was upset with their unstable life. Ashish had been living with his son somewhere.” “After his wife left him, Ashish started consuming more drugs. We do not suspect any foul play in his death. I feel that since he was a drug addict, he must have felt the urge for drugs and when he did not get it, he hanged himself to death,” Manu added.

Assistant commissioner of police (North) Mahesh Kumar said, “An FIR has been lodged against two cops for causing death by negligence. Being duty officers, it was their responsibility to keep a watch on the inmate.”

The ACP said Ashish committed suicide around 3.28pm, however the cops came to know about it around 4.15pm. Autopsy of Ashish was conducted under the supervision of duty magistrate Monika Chauhan. The autopsy report is still awaited.