FIR lodged against unidentified Guj cops for custodial death

An FIR has been lodged against Local Crime Branch and Special Operations Group personnel here in connection with the alleged custodial death of a man suspected of stealing gold, a senior official said Sunday.

Surubha Jhala (35), who was detained on October 14 in connection with a gold theft case registered a day earlier at Bagodara police station, had died at a community health centre on October 15, Ahmedabad (Rural) Superintendent of Police R V Asari said.

Jhala had complained of uneasiness while he was in the custody of the LCB and was rushed to the health centre in the city's Bopal area where he died, Asari said.

"Jhala's family members have alleged that he was tortured and murdered in custody. On the basis of a complaint by the deceased's brother, Mahavirsinh, we filed an FIR Saturday night against unnamed LCB and SOG personnel," Asari informed.

The unidentified policemen have been charged under sections 302 (murder) and 330 (voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession) of the IPC, he said.

The probe into the case is being carried out by Inspector I M Gohil of Bopal police station under the supervision of deputy SP K T Kamaria, he added.