Ballia Custodial Death: Magisterial Probe Ordered, Political Parties React

The district administration of Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the alleged custodial death of a man. Additional District Magistrate Anil Kumar confirmed on Thursday that District Magistrate Mangla Prasad Singh initiated the probe following the death of Kamji Gond, a resident of Gaighat village, who allegedly died after being assaulted by police.

Mr. Kumar stated that he has begun the inquiry and invited anyone with evidence or statements related to the case to submit them within a week. The inquiry report is expected within the same period.

Kamji Gond, 42, died during treatment at the Trauma Centre of Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi on the night of July 10. Based on a complaint lodged by his son Vishal Gond, the Revati police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on July 12 against sub-inspector Sachin Saroj, constable Ankit Singh, village head Ashutosh Shankar Singh, Suraj Kannaujia, one of his relatives, and Manish Yadav. The charges include provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to murder and other offences.

Sub-inspector Saroj and constable Singh were suspended immediately after the FIR was registered. Revati Station House Officer Raj Keshar Singh was transferred to the police lines.

The Samajwadi Party (SP) announced that a 14-member delegation, constituted on the directions of party president Akhilesh Yadav, will visit Gaighat village on July 17 to express condolences to the family and ascertain facts. SP district spokesperson Sushil Pandey said the delegation includes Ballia MPs Sanatan Pandey and Ramashankar Vidyarthi 'Rajbhar', former Leader of Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Ram Govind Chaudhary, Scheduled Tribe Cell national president Vyas Ji Gond, and Ambedkar Vahini national president Mithai Lal Bharti. The party stated its firm support for the victim's family and its commitment to a democratic struggle for justice.

The Congress party held a candle march on July 15 in Ballia town demanding justice. The march started from the railway station and ended at Shaheed Chowk. District Congress president Umashankar Pathak said the party would continue to fight for justice for the bereaved family.

Separately, delegations from the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation and the Communist Party of India visited the victim's family on July 15 and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.

According to the FIR, Vishal Gond alleged that sub-inspector Saroj and constable Singh came to his house on the afternoon of July 8 and took his father, who was asleep, to the police station. He claimed his father was assaulted inside the police station under pressure from village head Ashutosh Shankar Singh. Later that evening, the village head and his driver, Manish Yadav, allegedly took Kamji to a brick kiln, assaulted him again, and abandoned him in a nearby orchard. Vishal also expressed dissatisfaction with the post-mortem findings conducted by authorities at Banaras Hindu University.