Rewa, Madhya Pradesh:
Five policemen including the Hanumana Police Station in-charge were suspended on Friday on the charge of dereliction in duties after an accused in a loot case allegedly committed suicide on Thursday night in police lockup.
The suspension was announced by Rewa district's Superintendent of Police (SP) Umesh Joga after the accused identified as Shivshankar alias Chotu Kushwaha allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself.
He along with five others were arrested by the police in connection with the loot of Rs 3.39 lakh from employees of a Jabalpur-based wholesaler on March 21, 2012.
The employees identified as Mahendra Mohna and Manoj Patel were returning in a car to Jabalpur after recovery of payment following which they were looted by members of a gang who threw chilli powder in their eyes near Piprahi valley.
After Chotu was found hanging in the lockup, he was rushed to the hospital where he was declared as brought dead.
His family members alleged that he died because of excessive beating in the lockup. A magisterial probe has been ordered in this regard.
The SP has suspended Hanumana Police Station in-charge, K S Malik, Head Constable Sachhidanand Upadhyaya, constables Indubali Singh, Rajesh Shukla and Choetlal.
Kotwali Police Station in-charge, SS Rajput was also line-attached (removed from field duties) by the SP following allegations that he was also involved in custodial torture of Chotu.