UP cop held, another flees after 2 brothers end life over 'harassment'

Police have arrested a sub-inspector and are trying to trace another officer after after two brothers died by suicide over alleged harassment by them, officials said on Thursday.

On June 22, Sanjay Singh, a resident of Roopdhanu village in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, died by suicide over alleged harassment by Sadabad Police.

According to police, Sanjay's brother-in-law had eloped with a minor girl.

The Sadabad Police asked Sanjay to produce his brother-in-law in connection with the case before June 22, but he died by suicide the same day, they said.

On Monday, Sanjay's brother Pramod Singh, a home guard, also took his life. He left a suicide note behind in which he accused the Sadabad Police, they said.

After the suicides of the brothers, the villagers protested against the police and demanded action against the officer. Following this, Sub-inspector (SI) Hariom Agnihotri and Inspector Mukesh Kumar were suspended on the directions of Aligarh Range Inspector General Shalab Mathur, the police said.

On Tuesday, a first information report (FIR) was registered at Barhan Police Station against the two officers under the Indian Penal Code Section 306 (abetment of suicide) and SI Agnihotri was arrested the next day, police said.

"SI Agnihotri was produced before the court and sent to jail, while Inspector Kumar is still absconding and search is on," Etmadpur Assistant Commissioner of Police Sukanya Sharma told PTI.

Union minister SP Singh Baghel visited the village and met the aggrieved family.

He said the UP government has given Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family.

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NHRC notice to UP DGP

Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said it has issued a notice to the police chief of Uttar Pradesh over the reported suicides.

The police are supposed to protect the people from any atrocity but in this case, it appears that they became the 'perpetrators' which is a matter of concern, the NHRC observed.

The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of the media report carried on June 25 that 'two brothers of Agra committed suicide within three days due to alleged harassment by police personnel of Sadabad police station in Hathras', the human rights panel said in a statement.

Reportedly, a suicide note in this regard has been left by one of the brothers, it said.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, indicate a serious issue of human rights violation.

'Going by the media report, it appears that the police personnel acted inhumanly and cruelly with both the victims due to which they ended their lives. Therefore, the Commission has issued a notice to the Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh calling for a detailed report within one week,' the statement said.

It should also include the status of the FIR registered, action taken against the officials responsible, and relief if any, provided to the next of kin of the deceased, it added.

'According to the media report, the police had detained the younger brother for two days alleging that his brother-in-law had eloped with one girl and released him only after taking a bribe of Rs 10,000. Two days later, his elder brother and nephew were picked up by the police demanding Rs 90,000 as a bribe to release them,' the statement said.

'Reportedly, a part of the amount was also paid but the concerned SHO of PS Sadabad, Hathras was pressurising them for further payment. The elder brother had reportedly also brought the matter to the notice of the SO for action against the SHO,' it said.