An investigation is underway after a robbery suspect died in police custody in Katihar, Bihar, leading to the suspension of two police officers and sparking protests from local residents.
A man arrested in a case of robbery allegedly hanged himself to death inside the police lockup in Bihar's Katihar district, following which the SHO and the investigating officer were suspended, an official said on Saturday.
Rakesh Kumar Yadav (24) was arrested on Friday.
According to a police statement, the man hanged himself inside the lockup on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. "He was immediately taken to the nearest government hospital, where doctors declared him dead," it said.
When the locals came to know about Yadav's death, they staged a protest, blocking a road by burning tyres and also beat up a police personnel.
A video, purportedly on the incident, has been shared widely on social media. PTI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
Following the accused's death, Katihar's superintendent of police suspended the station house officer of Phalka police station and also the investigating officer of the case, the statement said.