Alleged custodial murder in UP to be probed

A probe has been ordered into the alleged custodial murder of a 40-year-old farmer in Saharanpur. The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) has asked the Muzaffarnagar police to lead the probe as former Minister Syed Isa Raza, the man's cousin, said that the inquiry must not be handed to the Saharanpur police. Arpit Vijayvargiya, the Superintendent of Police (city), Muzaffarnagar, informed that the investigation has begun as per orders.

The incident took place on September 5 when the police raided Thitki village following a tip-off on alleged cow slaughter. Afterwards, the police informed Raza that Mohd Zeeshan, his cousin, had tried to escape and accidentally shot himself in the leg. Yogesh Sharma, Station house officer of the Deoband police station, said that Zeeshan was carrying a country-made pistol.

"He shot himself in the leg and died after reaching the hospital," Sharma said.

Raza, however, refuted the narrative saying Zeeshan had no need for a country-made pistol as he already had two licensed guns.

"Two police personnel came to my home after the raid and told me that my cousin was involved in cow slaughtering and had shot himself in the leg while trying to escape. They said that he seemed to have died out of fear," said Raza.

Afroz, Zeeshan's wife, claim that her husband was beaten to death. She said that the three police personnel had beaten Zeeshan to death after taking him from home.

"On the day of the raid, he had told me he was being taken in for questioning. He never returned," she said.

"We do farming on 40 bighas of land. He had no involvement in illegal activities or cow slaughter," she added.