UP man arrested after name mix-up alleges custody torture; cops deny charge

A warrant execution in Uttar Pradesh's Hamirpur has triggered a custodial assault controversy after police allegedly picked up the wrong man because he shared the same name as the accused they were looking for. The youth, Shivraj, has accused policemen of thrashing him inside the police station, while police insist he injured himself after realising he had been detained by mistake.

The incident took place in Hamirpur district's Kotwali Nagar area, where police had gone to execute a non-bailable warrant issued on July 4 in connection with a 2018 case.

According to the victim's family, police were searching for a wanted man named Shivraj but instead detained another Shivraj from the same locality and took him to the police station despite repeated protests that they had the wrong person.

The youth's condition allegedly deteriorated while in custody, following which police took him to the district hospital. Doctors later referred him to Kanpur for further treatment.

FAMILY ALLEGES WRONG MAN WAS BEATEN

The victim's sister, Roopa, claimed a police team led by Sub-Inspector Surendra Pal Singh had arrived at their home saying her brother was wanted in a 2018 case.

She said the family repeatedly told the officers they had detained the wrong Shivraj, but the police ignored them and took him away.

According to the family, police later admitted they had mistakenly picked up the wrong man because both shared the same name.

The injured youth also alleged that he was taken to the police station without justification and assaulted there.

DOCTOR CONFIRMS PHYSICAL INJURIES

Doctors at the Hamirpur District Hospital said the youth had suffered multiple injuries.

Dr Dharmendra Singh said police had brought Shivraj Singh to the hospital and described it as "a case of physical assault."

He said the youth had injuries on his head, face and chest. After initial treatment, he was referred to Kanpur because of the seriousness of his condition.

POLICE DENY ASSAULT

Hamirpur Additional Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar Verma admitted that police had initially detained another man named Shivraj instead of the person against whom the warrant had been issued.

However, he denied allegations of custodial assault.

According to the police, while verifying the detainee's identity at the police station, officers realised that his father's name did not match that of the wanted accused.

Police claimed that after learning he had been brought to the station by mistake, the youth became agitated and "began injuring himself by striking his hand against the window," sustaining injuries in the process.

The police also claimed that the detained youth has several criminal cases registered against him.

INQUIRY ORDERED

The ASP said Shivraj had accused police personnel of assault and that the allegations were being examined.

"An impartial and transparent investigation is being conducted at a high level, including examination of CCTV footage. Whatever facts emerge during the investigation, strict action will be taken in accordance with the rules," Verma said.

He added that doctors had informed police that the youth's condition was currently stable.

The incident has sparked controversy in Hamirpur, with conflicting versions from the victim's family and the police. The outcome of the inquiry and examination of CCTV footage is expected to determine how the youth sustained his injuries.

- Ends