Acid attack accused commits suicide, family alleges torture

Within hours of his surrender, a person accused of throwing acid on a woman hanged himself today inside the lock-up room of a police station here, with his family alleging that he died of custodial torture.
While brother of 30-year-old Lakhan Sexena alleged that he succumbed to injuries after being brutally beaten up at Vijay Nagar police station, a doctor of Sanjivani Hospital, where Lakhan was taken, said condition of his lips indicate that his death might have occurred by consuming poison.
Lakhan had allegedly thrown acid yesterday at a 22-year-old married woman, who is admitted to a hospital with fifty per cent burns, after she spurned his offer of a romantic relationship, an allegation refuted by his family.

Soon after the incident, SSP Dharmender Singh ordered suspension of Vijay Nagar police station SHO, a sub-inspector and three constables.
"After acid attack, we were constantly in touch with Lakhan's family. He had fled to Mainpuri, but his family members had suggested him to surrender," said SP Shiv Shankar Yadav, who has been entrusted with the probe into the matter.
Yadav said Lakhan hanged himself from a grill in the bathroom of the lock-up using his shirt.

"Lakhan had gone to the bathroom. When he did not come out, duty constable checked the lock-up and found him hanging at 1.50 PM," Yadav said.

"Lakhan was rushed to the nearby Sanjivani Hospital where he was declared dead at 2.25 PM," he said.
Doctor Sumit Mawar of the hospital said from the condition of his lips, it appeared Lakhan might have died by consumed poison.
Lakhan's brother Ram Sharan, however, alleged his brother was brutally beaten up in the lock-up, and succumbed to his wounds.
"After his arrest, police didn't allow him to meet my brother in police station," he said.