Custodial death earns state Maha-shame

After the recent custodial death of Rafiq Shaikh, who was arrested by Dharavi police in a fake currency case, concerns have been raised over the safety of inmates and those in detention.

According to statistics provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), maximum number of custodial deaths in 2011 took place in Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh is second on this list with a vast difference in the number of deaths. Thirty-two custodial deaths were reported in Maharashtra, while nine were reported in Uttar Pradesh. These were of people who were not remanded in police custody by the court.

Rafiq Shaikh, who was arrested last week, died in jail under mysterious circumstances. His family claimed that he was tortured by Irfan Shaikh, an assistant inspector. Irfan was then transferred to the police control room. The crime branch is currently probing into the mysterious death of Rafiq.

Senior advocate Anand Jondhale said, “Many of the policemen posted in Mumbai come from rural areas and get attracted to the money around them. Corruption is rampant and is the reason why many innocent people are arrested. And it is mainly the innocent who are killed in police custody.”
Out of the 32 custodial deaths reported, a magisterial enquiry was ordered in three cases, judicial probe in two and only in four cases was an FIR registered. Not a single policemen was charge-sheeted in any of these cases.

Jondhale added that many of these custodial deaths are suicides as well.
“It has to be understood that a person who has been falsely implicated will take such a drastic step. In some cases, even those who are guilty commit suicide as they cannot cope with the torture and harassment.”