PRD Personnel Found Dead in Dehradun Police Station After Petrol Pump Altercation
In a tragic incident in Dehradun, a Prantiya Rakshak Dal (PRD) personnel was allegedly found dead inside a police station in the Raipur area on Saturday evening. The deceased has been identified as Sunil Raturi, a 45-year-old man posted in the youth welfare department office.
Sequence of Events Leading to the Arrest
According to police reports, Raturi was arrested earlier in the day for creating a disturbance at a petrol pump in the city while in an inebriated state. The incident unfolded when Raturi, who hailed from Tehri district and resided in the PRD colony of Tapovan area in the state capital, allegedly refused to make payment after getting petrol filled at a fuel station in Ladpur.
"When the petrol pump staff demanded payment, he allegedly pulled out a toy pistol and pointed it towards the staff," police stated. This prompted the staff to immediately inform the Raipur police station, who subsequently notified the PRD unit.
Police Response and Arrest Details
A police statement from Dehradun provided detailed chronology of the events: "An information was received at Raipur police station around 3:15 pm that at a fuel petrol pump located in Ladpur, a person was refusing to pay after getting petrol filled. He was heavily intoxicated with alcohol, and was misbehaving and quarreling with the employees."
Upon receiving the information, police personnel reached the spot and attempted to reason with Raturi, but found him uncooperative due to his intoxicated state. The police then took him and his vehicle to the local thana (police station).
A breathalyzer test conducted at the police station revealed an alcohol level of 231.6 mg/100ml, far above the legal limit. Consequently, Raturi was held under section 185/207 of the Motor Vehicles Act for driving under the influence of alcohol.
The Tragic Discovery in Police Custody
After being placed in a lock-up at the police station, Raturi allegedly tore a blanket and hanged himself, according to police claims. The statement elaborated: "He created a lot of ruckus... After a while, when the head constable deployed on surveillance duty checked on the accused, he was found in an unconscious state."
The police immediately removed him from the male lock-up, and the Station House Officer along with accompanying personnel rushed him to Coronation Hospital in Dehradun. Tragically, doctors at the hospital declared him dead upon arrival.
Official Response and Investigation Initiated
IG Garhwal Rajeev Swaroop has directed SSP Dehradun to conduct a detailed probe into the incident. "I've directed SSP Dehradun for a detailed probe. We'll also look into whether any provision of the National Human Rights Commission was violated. We'll get the probe findings soon," Swaroop told media outlets.
Police have announced that a postmortem examination will be conducted by a panel of doctors under videography to ensure transparency. Additionally, a magisterial inquiry has been ordered to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding Raturi's death while in police custody.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Scrutiny
The incident has raised serious questions about police procedures and custodial safety measures. The investigation will particularly focus on whether proper protocols were followed during Raturi's detention and whether any human rights violations occurred during the process.
As authorities await the postmortem results and investigation findings, the case continues to draw attention to issues of police accountability and custodial safety in the region. The tragic death of a government personnel while in police custody has sparked concerns that extend beyond this individual case to broader systemic considerations.
