Pocso accused found hanging in police lockup

Pune: A man accused in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act case for sexually assaulting a minor girl and forcing her for abortion when she became pregnant was found hanging inside the lockup of the Wadgaon Nimbalkar police station on Tuesday morning.A case was registered against him earlier on April 24, he was arrested on April 25 under the Pocso Act and remanded to custody till April 30.Additional superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Ganesh Biradar told TOI that the man (48) was alone in the lockup around 8am on Tuesday when the incident happened. He had used his trousers to hang himself. "He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead," he said.The officer said the inquest panchnama was conducted. The body was sent to the Sassoon hospital for a post-mortem that will take place on Wednesday in the presence of a panel of doctors. He said the police have registered a case of accidental death.Police inspector Shrishail Chiwadshetti of the Baramati city police is investigating the case. "The state criminal investigation department will take over the investigation of the custodial death," he said.