In yet another case of police taking law into their hands, a youth in the custody of the Delhi police died due to their torture in the Daula Kuan police post. Following the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), they paid Rs.3 lakh as interim relief to the victim’s mother.
The youth – Vicky – died on March 12, 2008.
As per the details of the case, Vicky was initially detained by Daula Kuan police personnel and was being taken by foot to Delhi Cantonment police station by them. On the way, he suddenly swooned after complaining pain in his stomach. He was taken to Safdarjung Hospital where he expired.
The subsequent medical report did not rule out the possibility of death due to acute pancreastitis. In the absence of any other disease, pancreastitis could be caused by the blunt abdominal injury only, it said.
The Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi, in his opinion, concluded that a commission of offence was made out as far as the cause of death of Vicky was concerned and the Delhi cantonment police Station House Officer was directed to register an FIR.
The NHRC, which went through various reports and materials on record, found that Vicky was ill-treated physically by police resulting in his death. A case was also registered by the Delhi Police under section 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder).
The Delhi police also informed the Commission that a competent court was regularly monitoring the case registered under FIR 200/2008.
