Man dies in custody; FIR against 3 cops, suspended

Meerut: A 23-year-old man detained in a theft case died in police custody at Nirpura village in Baghpat on Saturday, leading to the suspension of three policemen and an FIR against them.Rohit Rana was taken to Bharal police outpost on Friday evening for questioning over thefts at seven tube wells. His family alleged they were denied access to him when they visited on Saturday afternoon.Around 4 pm, outpost in-charge Suresh Kumar and two constables found Rohit hanging from a ceiling fan. He was rushed to Budhana community health centre, where doctors declared him dead, said Baghpat SP Suraj Rai.The family accused police of custodial killing. Villagers and relatives staged a protest, blocking the Baraut–Muzaffarnagar road, which was later cleared after officials assured an inquiry.“Prima facie negligence has been found. The outpost in-charge Suresh Kumar and constables Akash Kumar and Aadesh Kumar have been suspended with immediate effect. An FIR under BNS Section 108 (abetment of suicide) has been registered against them,” SP Rai said.Police added that Rohit had previously been named in several cases, including murder and under the Pocso Act.