Adivasi man dies hours after release from police custody in Deoghar

Dumka: A 50-year-old Adivasi man died hours after being released from police custody in Bagdaha village of Deoghar district on Saturday, sparking controversy over alleged police brutality.
According to villagers, Maheshwar Rana, the deceased, was a daily wage earner. He was picked up from his home by the Sarath police station team for questioning in connection with a Pocso case.
Police have, however, denied any misconduct during the interrogation of Rana.
Talking to TOI, Deoghar DSP (CCR) and police spokesperson Laxman Prasad said, "The Sarath police team interrogated without any excesses. The suspect was released and sent home in stable condition the same afternoon." Police said Rana's death could have been caused by complications from fasting on Saturday.
However, Rana's family members paint a different picture, alleging that he was visibly distressed upon his return and unable to speak. They claimed he succumbed to injuries sustained during the interrogation while being rushed to the hospital.
"A post-mortem examination has been conducted at the Deoghar sadar hospital to determine the cause of his death," the DSP Prasad, adding that investigations into the death were ongoing.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from local political leaders. Sarath MLA Uday Shankar Singh (Chunna Singh) of JMM, who visited the bereaved family on Sunday, has demanded a CID probe into the matter. Speaking to TOI, Singh expressed concern over the alleged reign of terror unleashed by the Sarath police.
"Local residents are so terrified of the Sarath police that they avoid visiting markets and rural haats, fearing detention or arrest on the pretext of questioning, including for cybercrimes," Singh said. He pointed out that the current police team, including officer-in-charge Suraj Kumar, has been posted in the area for nearly four years.
The MLA strongly condemned the incident, calling for severe action against police officers who violated human rights and alleged that the local police were involved in blackmailing and extorting the public, creating an atmosphere of fear in their jurisdiction.
"I will raise this issue with the govt and demand a thorough CID investigation into Maheshwar Rana's death," Singh affirmed. He emphasized the need for immediate intervention to address what he described as systematic police misconduct in the area.