Ahmedabad: 64-yr-old man’s death sparks allegations of custodial torture

Ahmedabad: A controversy broke out on Wednesday after the death of 64-year-old Zahiruddin Shaikh, who had been booked in a cattle slaughter case, with his family alleging he died due to custodial torture by Vejalpur police. The family refused to accept the body, demanding action against the policemen allegedly involved. Shaikh was among the wanted accused in a May 5 case registered by Vejalpur police after 520kg of suspected cattle meat, a live calf and slaughter equipment were seized from an open ground near Sonal Cinema.

Zahiruddin’s son, Taufiq Shaikh, alleged that his father was beaten in police custody after being detained in connection with the offence. “We will not accept the body until we get justice,” he said. A video purportedly recorded by Shaikh before his death surfaced on social media on Wednesday. In it, he accused a policeman of beating him, pulling his beard and kicking him in his private parts. He also alleged that Rs 30,000 was demanded from him to prevent further assault. The authenticity of the video could not be verified.

Family members alleged that Shaikh was denied food for several hours and that his condition worsened after the alleged assault. They said he was later taken to the hospital, where he died during treatment. According to police records, Shaikh was detained on May 16 under preventive provisions and admitted to Sola Civil Hospital after his health deteriorated. After being discharged on May 18, he was taken to the Vejalpur police station for questioning in the cattle-slaughter case. Police said that later the same evening, Shaikh’s wife gave him medicines at the police station, after which his condition worsened again.

Officers then shifted him to hospitals, including SVP Hospital, for treatment. Police officials said Shaikh had a long criminal record, with multiple cases registered against him, mostly related to cattle slaughter and prohibition laws. Several PASA detention orders had also been issued against him in the past. No official statement on the custodial death allegations had been issued till late Wednesday.