Adivasi man dies in police custody in Madhya Pradesh, family members hold protest

Several members of the family of a 25-year-old Adivasi man, who died in police custody in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district ahead of his wedding, held a protest on Tuesday, during which some women relatives disrobed to mark their objection to the incident, The Indian Express reported.

While the police claimed that the man, identified as Deva Pardhi, died of a heart attack in custody, the family rejected the explanation, The Hindu reported.

Ahead of his wedding on Sunday, Pardhi and his uncle Gangaram were arrested for alleged theft. Later that night, Pardhi’s family was informed that he had died.

On Monday, Pardhi’s fiancée tried to set herself on fire but was rescued by the locals and the police, The Hindu reported. Gangaram’s wife, Surajbai, also attempted to do the same and suffered injuries.

Surajbai later told The Indian Express that Pardhi was picked up by the police around 4.30 pm on Sunday as he was “wearing his sherwani and about to leave” for the wedding venue.

“We tried to follow them,” she was quoted as saying. “Late at night, we received information from the district hospital… On reaching the hospital, we found out that Deva had died in custody.”

On Tuesday, Pardhi’s family members organised a protest outside the district collector’s office to demand an inquiry.

Some of the women relatives took off their clothes in protest when...

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