Ghaziabad cops yet to be arrested for alleged custodial death

Eight police personnel who were suspended Saturday after a suspected auto thief died in their custody here are yet to be arrested, a police official said Sunday.

"The autopsy on Shakeel's body found ante-mortem injuries on him. He also had tuberculosis," said Uttar Pradesh Deputy Inspector General of Police K. Satyanarayan here.

A departmental inquiry has been ordered against all eight policemen following the death of Mohammad Shakeel Friday night, police had said Saturday.

The death, which the victim's father alleged occurred due to torture, took place at the Kavi Nagar police station, according to one account.

Police sources, however, said that Shakeel, of Dasna in Ghaziabad, succumbed to injuries sustained earlier while being treated at a hospital in Ghaziabad.

Police said that after he confessed to stealing some vehicles, it was decided to take Shakeel to Ferozabad to recover the vehicles. On the way, he reportedly complained of chest pain and vomitted.

On a complaint by Shakeel's father Mohammad Khaleel, a case was registered against the eight police personnel.

Khaleel accused police of torturing his son for two days and of taking away his mobile phone and Rs.61,000 in cash.