Firozabad: A day after the accused’s death in prison, BSP and SP condemn the incident

A day after violence broke out in some areas of Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad district following the death of an accused who was in judicial custody since June 19 for motorcycle theft, leaders of various political parties condemned the incident and demanded swift action on Saturday.

Mayawati, leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, condemned the incident on social media, while Ramji Lal Suman, member of the Rajya Sabha of the Samajwadi Party, visited the family of the deceased. “It is a very sad incident that a Dalit died in jail. The state government should take action against guilty police officers and help the affected family,” Mayawati said in her post on X on Saturday.

She also questioned the Firozabad police’s complaint against those who had protested in connection with the incident and demanded withdrawal of such complaints. One Aakash, 28, a resident of Dakshin police station’s catchment area, was booked on June 19 for motorcycle theft after a stolen motorcycle was confiscated from him.

“Aakash was arrested on the court’s orders and remanded in judicial custody. On the night of June 20, his health deteriorated and he was treated by doctors in the district jail, but as his condition did not improve, he was shifted to the district hospital on June 21, where he died during treatment,” SSP Firozabad Saurabh Dixit had said on Friday.

Firozabad Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarvesh Mishra said on Saturday, “The district administration has presented a cheque of $500,000 to the family of the deceased as compensation.” “During the protests, properties were damaged by the anti-social elements and peace in the city was disturbed. Therefore, cases are being initiated against these anti-social elements who need to be identified,” Mishra added.

When asked about the complaint of the deceased’s father, the ASP stated that in case of a death in custody, a judicial investigation is required by law.

Meanwhile, Aakash was cremated under police protection early on Saturday, while his wife alleged that the atrocities committed by the Firozabad police were being covered up under the pretext of judicial detention and demanded the arrest of the guilty policemen.

“My husband was missing since June 17 and on June 19, I came to know about his arrest. Later, I came to know that he was in jail on June 20 and on June 21, we came to know about his death. I want justice,” she said tearfully at her house in Nagla Pachiya near the Humayunpur border post in Firozabad.

When violence broke out on Friday, police were forced to fire in the air as a protesting mob turned violent, reportedly setting fire to about half a dozen vehicles, including police vehicles, and pelting police officers with stones, leaving some police officers injured and bleeding.

“A post-mortem was conducted by a panel of doctors. After the death of the accused, anti-social elements gathered among the protesters and resorted to violence, but the police brought the situation under control after using mild force,” the SSP said on Friday evening.

When Aakash’s family members came to know about his death, they claimed that he was beaten by the police and died as a result. A local unit of the Bhim Army protested late on Friday night and took out a procession and shouted slogans after blocking a road in the city when the anti-social element among the protesters turned violent and damaged vehicles.

Forces from nearby police stations were called to the affected area. DM Firozabad Ramesh Ranjan and SSP Saurabh Dixit also visited the spot.