Dalit youth dies in custody, 4 UP cops benched

LUCKNOW: A Dalit man, 21, was found hanging Monday inside the washroom of Tarwa police station in Azamgarh, triggering massive protests and suspensions of four cops, including the SHO.Sunny Kumar had been detained Sunday night for allegedly making obscene gestures and playing vulgar songs on his cellphone while a Dalit girl was passing by on March 28. According to police, Sunny was to be presented before a magistrate later on Monday after Eid prayers on charges under BNS 74 (outraging the modesty of a woman). However, he was found hanging with a pyjama cord from a grille about 6ft above the ground. A guard went into the washroom when Sunny did not come out for long, police claimed.Azamgarh SSP Hemraj Meena suspended Tarwa SHO Kamlesh Patel, a sub-inspector, and two constables.A probe has been initiated under an additional SP-rank officer. Azamgarh DM Navneet Singh Chahal has ordered a parallel probe by an ADM-rank officer. A post-mortem was underway.Sunny's father Harikant demanded the suspension of the entire police station staff, holding them responsible for negligence and alleged that his son was framed in connivance with the cops and the girl's father.As news of Sunny's death spread, villagers gathered outside the police station accusing the cops of custodial murder, clashed with cops and pelted stones. The police resorted to mild baton-charge. As the unrest escalated, forces from other areas were deployed and senior officers arrived at the scene. The protesters blocked key roads for hours, including one connecting Azamgarh with Varanasi.