Murder accused dies in police custody, 4 cops suspended

A man accused in a murder case died under suspicious circumstances in police custody in Telangana's Medak district on Thursday.

Four policemen have been suspended in this connection for alleged negligence of duty.

T Lakshman (35), a mason who was wanted in connection with the murder of a woman in December last year, was arrested last night while he was on his way to Zaheerabad town of Medak from Mumbai and taken to Pulkal police station, Medak District Superintendent of Police B Sumathi told PTI.

"While he was in the SI's room in the police station, he removed his shirt and attempted to hang himself from window grills at around 4 AM. A constable noticed him and got him shifted to a nearby hospital from where he was referred to a government hospital in Hyderabad. However, he died on way to the hospital," she said.

Four policemen - inspector V Nagaiah, sub-inspector Lokesh and two escort constables Yadaiah and Uday - have been placed under suspension on charge of negligence of duty following Lakshman's death, the SP said.

In view of the suspicious death of the accused, a magisterial inquiry will be ordered by Medak District Collector, the SP said adding they have registered a case under section 176 (any person dies while in the custody of the police) of CrPC in connection with the incident.

Meanwhile, the man's relatives and local villagers alleged that it was a case of "lock-up death" and they suspect foulplay.

Lakshman owed Rs 4.5 lakh to a woman and when she demanded the amount from him, he allegedly killed her in Sadasivpet area of Medak before fleeing to Mumbai, she said.

"It was a gruesome murder. The woman's body was burnt by the accused after he killed her and packed in a gunny bag which was thrown in the backwaters of Manjira river," Sumathi said.

A case of murder and causing disappearance of evidence of offence was booked in connection with the murder.

After the killing, Lakshman escaped to Mumbai.

However, police managed to get his contact number and he was asked to visit Medak on the pretext of meeting his wife, when he was caught by the police, she said.