Custodial death of Muslim man in Bihar raises serious rights concerns
Patna : The death of a 53-year-old Muslim man in a jail in India’s Bihar state has triggered allegations of custodial torture, extortion and medical negligence, with his family and opposition leaders demanding impartial investigation into the incident.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Irshad Alam, a resident of Balha village in Gopalganj district, was arrested on June 2 in an alleged passport fraud case and sent to Gopalganj district jail on June 4. He later died after his health deteriorated in custody.
Family members maintained that Irshad was in good health at the time of his arrest and said that he was subjected to physical and psychological torture while in police custody before being produced before a court.
His brother, Parvez Alam, said that officials at Barauli police station demanded bribes in exchange for favorable treatment. He said that Station House Officer Kumari Alka Sinha initially demanded 500,000 rupees, later reducing the amount when the family expressed inability to pay. “They kept calling my brother a terrorist and pressured us to arrange money,” he said, adding that their attitude towards him became even more hostile after the family sought help from local public representatives for help.
The family further said that Irshad was detained for two days before being sent to judicial custody, during which he was intimidated and tortured. Parvez said the officer warned him with threats such as, “We will fix you,” reflecting the hostility he faced in custody.
Relatives also raised questions over the medical care provided in jail, saying they were informed about his critical condition only when it had already worsened. “By the time we reached the hospital, he had already died,” the family said.
The incident has sparked public anger in the area and drawn reactions from opposition politicians. Dilip Singh, district president of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), said Irshad had been declared medically fit before being sent to jail, raising questions over the sudden deterioration in his condition. “The allegations of custodial torture and negligence deserve an independent investigation,” he said.
