In Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, a young man allegedly died in police custody, sparking a major controversy. The family accuses police brutality and delayed medical response for his demise. Following his death, a forced post-mortem was conducted, and when the family and supporters protested, they were dispersed with force. Officials reportedly pressured them against holding a funeral without consent. These heated incidents have gained significant attention on social media.
The Lakhimpur Kheri police, however, firmly deny these accusations. They insist that Ramchandra Maurya, who died, was implicated under the Gangster Act and was involved in producing illegal liquor. During a raid on Monday night, he reportedly tried to escape but collapsed, eventually being declared dead at the hospital.
Source: aajtak
Upon hearing about the incident, a crowd, including Ramchandra's family, gathered outside the hospital, leading to a confrontation with the police regarding the post-mortem. The next day, post-mortem confrontations continued as villagers attempted to block roads in protest, refusing to proceed with the funeral without accountability.
During the standoff, a heated debate erupted between a local checkpoint in-charge, Dayashankar Dwivedi, and the agitated villagers. In a viral video, Dwivedi can be heard threatening legal actions, leading to heightened tensions.
Another video surfaced showing DSP PP Singh intimidating Ramchandra's grieving relatives. He firmly stated that no police officer, including the SHO of Nighasan and Majhagawn, would be suspended or held accountable, and no compensatory amount would be provided.
Relatives of Ramchandra assert that unless the responsible police officers face actions, they refuse to conduct the funeral. They demand compensation from the government. This controversy has triggered political reactions, with Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav sharing a video on social media, criticizing the ruling party.
According to Ramchandra’s family, he was arrested on charges of illicit liquor production on Monday night. Despite claiming innocence, he was detained, where his health reportedly deteriorated, leading to his death. Nonetheless, ASP Pawan Gautam states that Ramchandra collapsed while fleeing during the raid, not under police custody, and investigations are ongoing.
ASP clarified, "A team of doctors conducted the post-mortem, with video documentation. Death was due to shock, and viscera were preserved for examination."
Following Ramchandra's death, family and locals protested at the health center, accusing the police of responsibility and demanding action along with a Rs 30 lakh compensation. Refusal to proceed with the funeral continues until demands meet our satisfaction. The family claims that the police conducted the post-mortem without their consent.
