What Caused the Outrage Over Custodial Death in Jharkhand’s Deoghar?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Public outrage highlights concerns over police conduct.
- The family of Meraj Ansari demands justice and accountability.
- Protests have escalated, drawing attention to human rights issues.
- Community members assert that police brutality played a role in Ansari's death.
- Calls for compensation for the grieving family are being voiced.
Deoghar, May 22 (NationPress) The reported custodial death of a man in Jharkhand’s Deoghar district ignited significant public outrage on Thursday, as hundreds of local residents took to the streets, demanding justice and accountability for the police officers involved.
The individual in question, identified as 35-year-old Meraj Ansari, was taken into custody by the district’s cyber police on Wednesday morning related to a cybercrime investigation.
A police spokesperson indicated that Ansari's condition worsened while in custody, necessitating his admission to a hospital late Wednesday night, where he subsequently passed away.
However, community members and relatives assert that Ansari suffered from police brutality that resulted in his untimely death. As of now, no senior police official has provided an official comment on the incident.
The situation intensified on Thursday morning when police returned to Palojori with Meraj’s body following an autopsy.
His family, along with a large contingent of locals, staged a blockade on the main thoroughfare in the Palojori police station vicinity.
Protesters shouted slogans, accused the police of custodial torture, and called for stringent measures against the officers culpable.
As the protest escalated, police deployed tear gas and resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd and reopen the road. Additional police forces were stationed in and around the Palojori area to ensure public order.
According to residents of Dudhni, where Meraj resided, a joint operation by the Cyber Police and Palojori police station resulted in the detention of four individuals, including Meraj Ansari. His family was informed only the following morning that he had fallen ill while in custody and was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Meraj's elder brother, Mehboob Ansari, claimed that the police began beating Meraj immediately upon his detention. He also noted that locals who attempted to intervene or question the arrest faced mistreatment.
“Meraj leaves behind a grieving wife and four children. His unexpected death has devastated the family. The police must be held responsible, and the family should receive compensation,” demanded a protester.