Opposition parties in Tripura on Thursday (Oct 17, 2024) demanded a high-level inquiry into the death of a tribal man in jail. The parties claim that the police officers are responsible and are calling for action against them.
Badal Tripura was allegedly tortured in police custody at Manu Bazar police station in southern Tripura on October 13 and succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday evening.
The state police headquarters said three SPOs have been dismissed from service and a sub-inspector has been suspended for his alleged involvement in the Badal Tripura torture. The police said that the case is being investigated and further punitive action will be taken against the guilty officials.
Sources revealed that the state police had informed the state and the National Human Rights Commission, as is mandatory in cases of torture and death in custody.
On Thursday, a large number of people gathered outside the Manu Bazar police station to protest the incident, including the victim’s widow and daughter. The family members alleged that Badal Tripura was taken away from his home on October 13 “though he was not involved in any crime and was brutally tortured at the police station”.
Hospital records confirm multiple injuries on his body, and an autopsy is still pending. CPI (M) state secretary, Jitendra Chowdhury, and state Congress chief, Ashish Kumar Saha, condemned the incident and called for a high-level inquiry and severe punishment for those responsible.
Mr. Chowdhury also said that four men died in police custody recently and no proper investigation was conducted. The ruling BJP said the suspension of the police personnel and the initiation of an inquiry was proof of the state government’s resolve.
Published – October 18, 2024, 05:02 AM IST
