Family alleges assault, police say suicide as robbery suspect’s custody death sparks storm in Bihar village

His assemblage was allegedly recovered successful the constabulary lock-up aboriginal connected Thursday.

“Based connected CCTV footage, it appears that Shivam Jha, who was confined successful the lock-up, hanged himself astir 3.30 americium with a muffler by the rails of the ventilator,” Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sushil Kumar said. “Initial probe has revealed lapses connected the portion of the OD (On Duty) Officer, the defender (a constable), and SHO Sudhakar Pandey. They person been suspended.”

The on-duty serviceman has been identified arsenic Tanuja Kumari. The suspended policemen were recovered successful dereliction of duty.

“Since it’s a custodial death, we are pursuing owed process nether the guidelines of the NHRC and Supreme Court, and person called a forensic subject laboratory squad to the scene,” the SSP said.

“I person besides written to the DM that the post-mortem introspection volition beryllium done by a committee of 3 doctors, which volition beryllium videographed. I person written to the territory justice for a judicial investigation. Further enactment volition beryllium taken based connected the findings of the investigation,” the serviceman said, adding that Jha was recovered antecedently progressive successful a execution lawsuit from October 2024.

Meanwhile, his household and different colony residents stormed the constabulary presumption Thursday morning, sources said.

The household has rejected police’s claims, alleging that Jha was “beaten to death” portion successful custody.

“We had organised Saraswati Puja successful our locality. On the evening of February 3, we were sitting adjacent the puja pandal erstwhile a fewer policemen arrived and apprehended my member and 2 others, alleging their engagement successful a motorcycle theft,” said Ashish Jha (24), member of the deceased.

He further alleged that erstwhile helium and his parent visited the constabulary presumption the adjacent nighttime to spot his brother, Shivam told them “he had been severely beaten wrong a country located down the lockup”.

“When we tried to sojourn him again connected the greeting of February 5, the policemen denied america access. They sent america home, claiming that Shivam was being taken for a aesculapian introspection earlier his tribunal appearance. We returned aboriginal that day, lone to beryllium turned distant again. The policemen assured america that my member would beryllium released soon,” Ashish recalled.

He further alleged that the constabulary had released 2 of the different arrested men the aforesaid night. “Later connected Thursday, an acquaintance informed maine that Shivam had died successful jail. When my household and I rushed to the constabulary station, we recovered his body,” Ashish Jha said.

Ashish said Shivam assisted him successful his dependable strategy services business. He said his father, Krishna Dev Jha, is simply a priest, and his mother, Rinku Devi, utilized to enactment arsenic a backstage caregiver until a fewer years ago. Ashish and Shivam person a younger member who is simply a minor.