PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
A Prantiya Rakshak Dal jawan allegedly died by suicide inside a police lockup on Saturday. The incident took place at Rajpur police station. The deceased has been identified as Sunil Kumar, a native of Tehri district, who was working in the Youth Welfare department. The matter is being investigated. What has especially raised concern is that the Dehradun senior superintendent of police Pramendra Dobal was on a visit to this police station and the suicide reportedly took place about the time of his departure.
According to police, Kumar was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and got into a fight with employees at a petrol pump in the Raipur area at about 3 PM. After receiving information, the police took him into custody and kept him in the lockup at the police station. After some time, police personnel found him hanging from the lockup gate in the evening. He was immediately taken out, but by then he had died. Sources claimed that Kumar was heavily intoxicated, verbally abusive and not in a condition to be sent home. They said he was kept in custody for his own safety, but around 5 PM, he allegedly tore a blanket and used it to hang himself.
Meanwhile, the PRD jawan’s wife has raised serious allegations against the police. She questioned how someone could hang himself using a blanket and why he would take such a step. She also claimed that Kumar had called a colleague from his department to arrange bail. However, when the colleague reached the police station, he was told that Kumar had been taken for a medical examination.
The incident has raised serious questions about safety and procedures inside police stations especially as the alleged suicide took place on the day of the SSP’s visit.
