DSP, CI among 8 cops booked for custodial death in Jhunjhunu

Jhunjhunu: The deputy superintendent of police (DSP) and circle inspector (CI) in charge of Khetri police station in Jhunjhunu were among 8 police personnel booked Wednesday for the death of a young man, Pappuram Meena, in police custody Sunday night. The investigation of this case will be conducted by the CID wing of crime branch (CB) Jaipur, officials said.
Meena was brought to Khetri police station for questioning in a case of theft of guar (cluster beans) reported in Feb from Karamadi village. According to family members, Meena was subjected to torture for about a week before his death. Police officials said Meena's health deteriorated while in custody and despite being transferred from Khetri to a Jhunjhunu hospital after initial treatment, he couldn not survive.
On Wednesday, the postmortem of Meena's body was conducted by a medical board at the govt-run BDK Hospital in presence of a judicial magistrate and family members, after which the body was handed over to the family.
In a meeting with family members Tuesday evening, district collector Ramavatar Meena and SP Sharad Chaudhary agreed to provide financial assistance of approximately Rs 24 lakh to Meena's dependents. Meena's wife was assured a job on a contractual basis. Following this, the family ended their protest.
Jhunjhunu SP Sharad Chowdhary earlier said the entire Khetri police station staff was reassigned in accordance with National Human Rights Commission guidelines on custodial deaths. A new team from the police lines, led by CI Mangilal Meena, took charge of the police station Monday.