Man commits suicide in lockup in Telangana

The man, T. Lakshman, taken into custody by the police, hanged himself in the station using his shirt but was cut loose by the cops and brought to government hospital in Hyderabad, where he succumbed in a few hours.

Telangana Police suspended four police officers including a Circle Inspector and a Sub-Inspector, and ordered a probe into the incident.

Laxman had absconded after killing his paramour and throwing her body in a lake after burning it. The incident occurred in December in Pulkal, and the cops had arrested his brother for assisting him. A special team from Medak police had tracked him down on Wednesday night while he was coming from Mumbai.

The suicide bid occurred at around 3.15 am, when the escort police constable and watch man were present at the station.

“He was kept in the police station in order to produce him before the court on Thursday. He removed his shirt and attempted to hang himself from a window grille. The escort constable noticed him and cut him loose. He was shifted to a government hospital in Hyderabad. He succumbed in the hospital,” said Medak SP B. Sumathi.

According to the doctors, Lakshman only had a strangulation mark on his neck, and there were no other visible injuries on his body.

Following the incident, West Zone IG Mr. Naveen Chand issued an order suspending four policemen - Jogipet Circle Inspector V. Nagaiah, who is the investigation officer in the murder case, Sub-Inspector Lokesh and two police constables Yadaiah and Uday.

Medak District Collector will order a magisterial inquiry into the death, while the Medak police has already registered a case under section 176 (any person dies while in the custody of the police) of CrPC. Lakshman’s relatives have alleged foul play in the death saying it was a lock up death.