Angry protesters went on a rampage torching a police station and several vehicles today after a Dalit youth arrested on charge of vehicle lifting died in lock-up under suspicious circumstances in Dewa Kotwali area.
Two policemen were seriously injured in the violence that erupted after the body of Subhash Rajvanshi was found hanging from a grill in the lock-up, with his family alleging that he was tortured to death in custody.
Police, however, claimed that Rajvanshi had committed suicide.
A resident of Madiyaon area, Rajvanshi was arrested by police for allegedly stealing a motorcycle and kept in the lock-up last evening, police said.
An inmate Shyamu Rawat said that the youth went to toilet and later his body was found hanging from an iron grill.
Infuriated with the incident, around 60 people attacked Mati police outpost, vandalised and torched it, besides three motorcycles, police said.
"Two policemen were brutally assaulted by the mob and have been referred to trauma center at Lucknow in serious condition," Superintendent of Police Abdul Hameed said.
He said that two persons have been arrested in connection with today's violence.
Hameed said that the youth was arrested on identification by the motorcycle owner and he later committed suicide.
An independent inquiry would be conducted into the death of the youth and action would be taken on its basis, the District Magistrate Yogeshwar Ram Mishra said.
Heavy force has been deployed in the area and senior officers are camping there, police added.
