IMPHAL, February 26: A 37 year old was found dead in a suspicious manner this early morning inside the Wangoi Police Lock-up.
Alleging foul play in the death, angry locals of Wangoi Makha Leikai today blocked the busy Mayai Lambi at Wangoi Bazar demanding investigation into the incident.
The deceased, identified as Thoudam Digbijoy was found dead with one end of his shirt making a noose around his neck and the other end hanging from the door of the lock-up.
Th Nabakumar, father of the deceased called a press conference in this regard at the Manipur Press Club today.
He said his son who was already married with three children had recently eloped with another woman from Hiyangthang on February 22.
The next day on February 23, he was arrested by a team of the Wangoi Police around 3pm following a complaint filed by the family of the woman.
The police informed the family that Digbijoy had committed suicide by using the sleeves of his man shirt to hang himself from the door of the lock up, the father lamented.
Alleging foul play in the death, he expressed that Digbijoy might have been killed during police torture.
He further appealed to the concerned authorities for an enquiry into the death at the earliest.
The death of person inside the lock-up in itself indicates to police neglecting their duties, he expressed.
Meanwhile, following the death inside the police lock-up, a large number of locals came out to the street this morning and tried to storm the Wangoi Police station demanding justice.
On getting information about the mob storming the police station, an additional superintendent of police, Imphal West N Sanajaoba rushed to the station along with a reinforcement team to subdue the mob.
The mob was barricaded some 100 meters away from the station. However, the angered locals blocked the busy Mayai Lambi and all vehicles had to be diverted from along the road.
Later, the body was taken down from the lock up after having conducted an examination on the body by a state forensic team. At the same time an inquest of the lock-up was also conducted in the presence of a duty magistrate along with family members and high ranking police officers of the Imphal West police.
Officer in charge, Wangoi police Munnan said Digbijoy was lodged alone in the lock up when the incident happened.
His body was found this morning around 8 by personnel on duty, the police officer said.
Following the recovery, family members were informed, he added.
The body has been deposited at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences Morgue for the post mortem late in the evening.