Assam records highest police custodial deaths

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam has recorded the highest number of police custodial deaths among the eight north-eastern states as per the figures of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). A total of seven deaths in police custody have been recorded in Assam out of the total 151 cases reported in the country up to November 15, 2021.

Among the other north-eastern states, Meghalaya reported 3 cases of death in police custody during the year while one case each was reported from Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Tripura. Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland are the only two north-eastern states without a single case of death in police custody.

Among all states, Maharashtra reported the highest numbers of death in police custody with 26 cases, followed by Gujarat with 21 cases, Bihar with 18 cases, and UP and Madhya Pradesh with 11 cases each. Assam stands seventh overall with 7 cases.

As per statistics, 136 police custodial deaths and 1,797 judicial custodial deaths were reported in the country in 2018-19. In 2019-20, there were 112 cases of police custodial deaths and 1,584 cases of judicial custodial deaths. During 2020-21, there were 100 cases of deaths in police custody and 1,840 cases of deaths in judicial custody.

In 2018-19, Assam reported 5 cases of police custodial deaths and 30 cases of judicial custodial deaths. In 2019-20, the figure stood at 2 and 32 respectively, while in 2020-21, there were 1 case of police custodial death and 18 cases of judicial custodial deaths.

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