Prayagraj: An FIR has been registered against the father and brother of a minor girl and unidentified policemen under relevant sections of the BNS and SC/ST Act following the death of a 22-year-old abduction accused, who allegedly died by suicide in the restroom of the investigation room inside Patti police station in Pratapgarh early Monday.Arjun alias Shailesh, a Dalit man wanted in the minor girl’s abduction case, had been arrested and brought to the police station on Sunday and was scheduled to be produced in court on Monday. His father, however, alleged that his son had been murdered.Taking cognisance, Pratapgarh SP Deepak Bhukar suspended Patti station house officer Anand Pal Singh and sub-inspector Omkar Singh for alleged dereliction of duty.The girl’s brother had earlier lodged an FIR under Sections 137(2) and 87 of the BNS against Arjun, a resident of Molnapur, on July 11, accusing him of abducting his 17-year-old sister.However, police later recovered the girl from Hyderabad, where she stated before the court that she had escaped after being scolded by her family members. Following this, no criminal case was established against Arjun.The girl’s father, however, lodged another FIR against Arjun on Aug 17 under Section 137(2) of the BNS, accusing him of abducting his daughter on Aug 16. Acting on the complaint, a team of Patti police found Arjun and the girl in Ghaziabad and brought them to Patti police station on Sunday.A senior cop told TOI, “To ensure a fair and transparent investigation, CCTV footage and other crucial evidence have been secured, and the Pratapgarh DM has recommended a magisterial inquiry. Further legal and departmental actions are proceeding in accordance with the rules, based on the facts and evidence gathered during the investigation.”Meanwhile, a section of lawyers staged a protest over the incident at the Patti tehsil campus on Tuesday and demanded action against those responsible.
