Six cops get life term for custodial deaths in Maharashtra

Mumbai, July 6 (IANS) A court in Maharashtra Friday sentenced to life imprisonment six policemen involved in two separate custodial death cases in Yavatmal district, an official said.

In a case dating to 1998, Munishwar, an accused of a small time theft at Umarkhed in Yavatmal district was badly beaten up by police officer while he was being questioned in custody.

Umarkhed is around 120 km from the district headquarters of Yavatmal.

District Judge Anil Subramnaian of Pusad Sessions Court Friday awarded life imprisonment to four police officers involved in his death. Pusad is around 110 km from the district headquarters of Yavatmal.

In another case dating to 2003, being heard in Subramanian's court, Tarachand received similar treatment after he was nabbed for a minor theft from Pusad. Tarachand's father had filed a petition in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court stating that his son had succumbed to injuries from the beating by policemen from Pusad Police Station.

Tarachand's post-mortem report revealed grievous injuries which might have caused his death, said a police official investigating the case.

Two policemen from Pusad Police Station were awarded life imprisonment in the case.