Theft accused dies in police custody in Chhattisgarh

A 26-year-old man, accused of theft, allegedly committed suicide in a police lock-up in Chhattisgarh's Korba district, following which four policemen were suspended.
Dinesh Namdeo was found hanging inside the lock-up of Hardibazar police outpost early this morning, said the district superintendent of police D Shravan.
Hardibazar is located around 30 km from Korba town.
Several thefts had been reported in the area early this month following which 14 suspects including Namdeo, a native of Bagichapara in Hardibazar village, were rounded up on February 14.
Yesterday morning, all others were released as Namdeo admitted to the crimes, SP Shravan said. Based on his statement, the stolen items were to be recovered today, he said.

CCTV footage of the lock-up showed that Namdeo tore a strip of the blanket given to him and hanged himself from the ceiling fan, the SP said, claiming that he hadn't been tortured by the police.

A three-member departmental team would probe the incident, and also a judicial enquiry will be conducted by magistrate (class-I) Sumit Kapoor, the SP said.
Meanwhile, in-charge of the police outpost Mansingh Rathiya, head constable Maruti Mahant and constables Santosh Chaudhary and Laxmi Narayan Baghel were suspended for negligence, while constable Bilfred Masih was shunted out.
Relatives of the deceased, villagers and local Congress leaders including Korba MLA Jaisingh Agrawal protested against the police outside the outpost. Congress leaders demanded compensation and jobs for Namdeo's family members.