The tragic death of Mohit Pandey, a 32-year-old school uniform trader, while in police custody at Chinhat police station, has sparked widespread controversy and outrage. CCTV footage that surfaced on Sunday reveals the moments leading up to Mohit Pandey’s deteriorating health while he lay in a lock-up, eventually resulting in his death. This incident, following closely after another custodial death in Lucknow, has fueled strong reactions from the public, political leaders, and the victim’s family, who allege police misconduct and demand justice.

The Incident: CCTV Footage Reveals Deterioration of Health

A one-minute and seventeen-second video, now circulating widely on social media, has added a distressing dimension to the story. The footage shows Mohit Pandey lying on the floor of the police lock-up in a visibly weak state. The video also captured his brother, Shobharam Pandey, who was detained alongside Mohit and kept in the same lock-up, attempting desperately to aid his brother. Shobharam is seen rubbing Mohit’s shoulders and pleading for assistance, clearly concerned about his deteriorating condition.

As the video progresses, the voices of the other seven inmates, who were also in the lock-up, can be heard joining Shobharam’s plea for police help. Eventually, a water bottle is provided, which Shobharam then hands to Mohit. However, this small gesture of aid came too late, as Mohit succumbed to his condition without receiving proper medical attention. Notably, there has been no official reaction from the police regarding the disturbing footage.

The Death Confirmed at the Hospital

Following his health complications in the police lock-up, Mohit Pandey was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. However, according to Dr. Vikram Singh, Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the hospital, Mohit was brought in without signs of life. He was declared dead upon arrival at around 2:30 pm on Saturday. This confirmation only intensified the questions surrounding the circumstances leading to his death, which many believe to be the result of police brutality and negligence.

Family Alleges Custodial Torture

Mohit Pandey’s death has triggered severe outrage from his family members, who believe that he was subjected to torture while in police custody. They have accused the police of brutality and negligence, which they claim led to his untimely death. Mohit’s mother, Tapeshwari Devi, lodged a formal complaint against the Station House Officer (SHO) of Chinhat police station, Ashwini Kumar Chaturvedi, as well as a porter named Adesh (with whom Mohit had a dispute before being taken into custody), his uncle, and other unidentified persons. As a result of this complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered late on Saturday night, which included charges of murder (Section 103(1)) and criminal conspiracy (Section 61/2) under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The family is resolute in their demand for justice and has stated that they will not accept anything less than a complete and transparent investigation into Mohit’s death. Their allegations and the evidence from the CCTV footage paint a deeply troubling picture of what transpired in that lock-up.

Protest for Justice: Family Demands CBI Investigation

In the aftermath of Mohit’s death, his family staged a protest, carrying his body to the Mantri Awas in Vibhuti Khand, Lucknow. They were joined by other relatives, including Mohit’s wife, who demanded justice and refused to cremate the body until a proper investigation was promised. Their primary demand was for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure fairness and transparency in the inquiry.

The protest soon began to gain momentum, with the family refusing to back down. The police initially tried to persuade them to end their demonstration. Still, as more people joined the protest, the authorities were compelled to transport Mohit’s body to his home in Chinhat. The family’s determination reflects their mistrust of the local authorities and the need for a credible investigation to bring those responsible to justice.

Political Response and Arrest of Protesters

The custodial death also drew responses from various political figures. Samajwadi Party leader Pooja Shukla arrived at the protest site and staged a sit-in to demand justice for Mohit Pandey. However, in a turn of events, the police took her into custody, further complicating the situation. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Bakshi Ka Talab (BKT), Yogesh Shukla, also contacted Mohit’s grieving family to express his condolences. He assured them that a meeting would be arranged with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to discuss the incident.

“The news of the death of Mohit Pandey in police custody at Chinhat police station is unfortunate. Today, I reached the residence of the victim’s family in Vibhav Khand, Gomti Nagar, and met the bereaved family members. I assured them of all possible help and a high-level investigation to ensure justice,” Yogesh Shukla said on his social media account. He further stated that he facilitated a conversation between the victim’s family and Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who assured justice would be served.

Opposition Attacks on Government

The death of Mohit Pandey in police custody has become a flashpoint for the opposition parties, who have criticized the Yogi Adityanath-led government for the increasing number of custodial deaths in Uttar Pradesh. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to social media to voice her concerns, stating that the law enforcement agencies failed to protect the public.

“In Lucknow, UP, the police detained two youths, and one died the next morning. This is the second death in UP police custody in a fortnight. The family alleges that the police murdered their son. Uttar Pradesh ranks first in the country in terms of deaths in custody. The BJP has established such a jungle raj in the state where police have become synonymous with brutality,” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wrote in Hindi on X (formerly Twitter). She added, “Where the lawkeepers themselves are taking lives, from whom should the public expect justice?”

Similarly, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticized the government for its inability to ensure the safety of citizens in police custody. He wrote on X, “In the last 16 days, this is the second news of death (read murder) in police custody in the capital of UP. The government, which is an expert in changing names, should now change the name of ‘police custody’ to ‘torture house’. Every demand of the victim’s family should be fulfilled; we are with them.”

A Pattern of Custodial Deaths

The custodial death of Mohit Pandey follows another recent incident in which a Dalit man, Aman Gautam, also died in police custody in Lucknow. These back-to-back incidents have raised significant concerns about the conduct of law enforcement officers in Uttar Pradesh. Mohit’s death has reignited the debate on the accountability of police personnel and the need for reforms to prevent custodial torture and ensure the protection of individuals’ rights while in police detention.

Custodial deaths are a severe violation of human rights and highlight the systemic issues that exist within the law enforcement system. The rise in such cases in Uttar Pradesh has questioned the authorities’ ability to safeguard citizens’ fundamental rights. The allegations of police brutality, coupled with the lack of timely medical assistance, indicate the urgent need for reforms and the establishment of mechanisms to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Demands for Accountability and Transparency

The custodial death of Mohit Pandey has once again placed the spotlight on the urgent need for police reforms in India. The victim’s family, political leaders, and human rights advocates are all calling for accountability and transparency in the investigation of custodial deaths. The demand for a CBI investigation reflects the family’s lack of confidence in the local police and their determination to seek justice.

Human rights organizations have long called for the implementation of measures to prevent custodial torture and ensure that police personnel are held accountable for any misconduct. This includes ensuring that all police lock-ups are equipped with CCTV cameras, providing adequate medical facilities for detainees, and establishing independent oversight bodies to investigate allegations of police brutality.

A Call for Justice

The custodial death of Mohit Pandey has left a void in his family’s life and raised significant questions about the role of the police in protecting the rights of citizens. As his family fights for justice, the incident has once again brought to the forefront the issues of police accountability, custodial torture, and the urgent need for reforms in the law enforcement system. The demands for a CBI probe, political outrage, and public protests all point towards a collective call for justice and the prevention of further custodial deaths.

The tragedy of Mohit Pandey’s death is a reminder that the police, as protectors of the law, must uphold the principles of justice and human rights. Until meaningful reforms are implemented and accountability is ensured, incidents like these will continue to erode public trust in the law enforcement agencies meant to safeguard their rights and lives.