New Delhi: Two weeks after being accused of causing the death of a young Dalit man in Lucknow, the police in the Uttar Pradesh capital are under fire for another custodial death. A trader belonging to the Brahmin community, Mohit Pandey, who was in his early thirties, died in police custody on October 26, after being arrested in connection with a minor dispute.

Pandey’s family alleged that he died after being beaten by police following his arrest and that he was apprehended and assaulted at the behest of a politically-connected person whose identity is not yet known.

The custodial death has once again put the Yogi Adityanath government in the dock, as UP has consistently ranked among the worst states when it comes to cases of deaths in police custody.

After protest by relatives, Adityanath meets family

Facing pressure after Pandey’s relatives staged a protest against the police by placing his body outside a ministers’ residence complex, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on October 28 met the family of the deceased at his official residence and directed officials to provide them immediate financial assistance of ₹ 10 lakh along with a house, free education to the children and benefits of other government schemes to the family.

A criminal case was also lodged against the station house officer of the police station where Pandey was kept on the charges of murder and criminal intimidation.

With by-elections on nine seats in the state set to be held soon, the Opposition parties have cornered the government over the........

© The Wire