Police personnel stand guard outside the Shahi Jama Masjid amid Friday prayers, in Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Hundreds of people gheraoed Raisatti Police outpost under the Nakhas Police limits in Sambhal district on Monday (January 20, 2025), protesting against the alleged custodial death of 35-year-old Irfan. Additional deployment of personnel from two police stations, Kotwali and Nakhasa, were called in, and senior officials attempted to calm tempers as demonstrators demanded compensation for the victim and strict action against accused police personnel.

“Police personnel from Raisatti police outpost came to our house and took Irfan, who has health issue, for interrogation, where he was tortured to death. We requested the police that he was unhealthy and must be given time to take his medicines, but police didn’t listen to us at all,” the wife of the deceased told local reporters.

Irfan was detained after one of his relatives filed a complaint with the local police alleging that he had not repaid money he had borrowed two months ago. Later, the body was sent for post mortem.

However, Sambhal police rejected allegations of custodial torture and said the Irfan likely died due to a heart attack.

“When the deceased was brought to the police outpost, his son was also with him. He told police that his father needed to take his medicine. He consumed a tablet and suddenly fell to the ground. The deceased was a patient, and probably died due to it,” said Krishna Kumar, Superintendent of Police (SP), Sambhal.

Azad Samaj Party (ASP) president and Nagina MP Chandra Shekhar Aazad demanded a fair investigation and action against the culprits of the alleged custodial death.

“Irfan’s suspicious death inside a police station in Sambhal district of Uttar Pradesh has raised serious questions on law and order. The allegations of police torture levelled by the family members have not only put the administration in the dock but have also dealt a severe blow to the working style of the Yogi government. Fair investigation of this matter and action against the culprits is not only necessary but it is also a test of the credibility of the government,” he wrote on X.