Patna: A judicial inquiry has been ordered and an FIR lodged in connection with the alleged custodial death of Rakesh Kumar Yadav (24) in Phalka police station in Katihar district, even as police on Sunday arrested five people, including the main accused, for their involvement in the violent mob attack on the police station following the death on Saturday.The arrests were made after the mob allegedly created a ruckus, blocked Phalka-Kursela State Highway, misbehaved with police officials, including a woman constable, and tried to snatch a police weapon alleging custodial death of Rakesh. Rakesh, a resident of Gopalpatti under Phalka police station, was arrested on Friday evening on suspicion of motorcycle theft. Police said he died on Saturday morning during treatment at the Sadar Hospital, Katihar.According to police, Rakesh attempted suicide by hanging himself in the police station lock-up. His family, however, accused the police of brutally beating and torturing him to death in the lock-up.“In connection with the violence, police registered an FIR in Phalka police station based on CCTV footage, treating the case as one of unnatural death. The main accused, Diwakar Kumar Yadav alias Divo Yadav, resident of Laxmipur Lohjar (Katihar), has been arrested along with four others—Monu Yadav, Prabhat Kumar, Roshan Kumar, Abhimanyu Kumar—all residents of adjoining Purnia district,” Katihar SP Shikhar Chaudhary said.Following the incident on Saturday, the SP immediately suspended SHO of Phalka police station Ravi Kumar Rai and investigating officer Kundan Patel and ordered an inquiry.The SP added: “Identification of other people involved in the incident through CCTV footage is underway, and strict action will be taken against them as well.”He said a special team, led by SDPO (Sadar-II), Ranjan Kumar Singh, is investigating the death of Rakesh.The police on Saturday sent the body to sadar hospital for autopsy by a medical board and the report is awaited. According to the police, the CCTV footage showed that Rakesh attempted suicide inside the lock-up by hanging himself.
