A 28-year-old robber, who was allegedly beaten up by a mob after a robbery, died after Beltarodi Police reportedly delayed taking him for medical treatment. The incident took place at Prithviraj Nagar under the limits of Beltarodi Police Station on Tuesday afternoon. The delay has raised serious questions about police’s handling of an injured accused in custody. The deceased was identified as Sumedh Rajendra Gajbhiye (28), a resident of Narsala. Police said theft cases were registered against him. His alleged accomplice, Deepak Patil, also from Narsala, managed to escape. According to police, Gajbhiye and Patil went to the house of Usha Dharmik at Prithviraj Nagar. They posed as delivery boys to gain entry. Usha and her daughter-in-law were sleeping when the accused entered the house. Gajbhiye threatened Usha with a knife and snatched her gold chain.

 

The incident left the women frightened. After the robbery, Usha’s daughter-in-law closed the door and called her husband and informed him about the incident. Her husband rushed to the spot along with some friends. They searched for the robbers and managed to trace them. However, instead of handing them over to the police immediately, the group allegedly started assaulting them. Gajbhiye was beaten mercilessly. His accomplice, Patil, managed to flee during the commotion. The group later informed Beltarodi Police. A beat marshal rushed to the spot and took the accused person to the police station. The police allegedly kept Gajbhiye at the police station instead of immediately shifting him to a hospital. According to the allegations, he was even questioned by the senior officials at the police station. Later, Gajbhiye reportedly complained of chest pain.

 

The police then rushed him to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). However, doctors could not save him. When asked, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone IV, Rashmita Rao said the accused was taken into custody and brought to the police station at 3.31 pm. At 3.43 pm, he complained of chest pain and was immediately taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead at around 4.20 pm, she said. “All CCTV footages were checked. It was not found that any police personnel had physically assaulted or slapped the accused or done anything wrong with him,” the DCP said. “There were no injury marks on the accused to suggest that he was beaten by the mob. We are awaiting post-mortem report, which will reveal the exact cause of death,” she said. However, sources said that procedural lapses have been found in the case.

 

According to them, police should have immediately shifted the accused to a hospital after he was assaulted by the mob. Instead, he was taken to the police station after he complained of chest pain. “A message allegedly circulated on social media by Beltarodi police personnel claimed that the mob had assaulted Gajbhiye. This indicates that police were aware that he had been beaten. Despite this, officials at Beltarodi Police Station did not consider taking him to a hospital first,” sources claimed. The incident has raised serious questions about the police response and the delay in providing medical assistance to an injured person in custody. Joint Commissioner of Police Navinchandra Reddy said that a further inquiry would be conducted into the incident. Another senior official indicated that the incident could attract provisions related to custodial death. Senior police officers reached the spot and initiated an inquiry. Police have detained three persons so far.