The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a recent death in police custody and has sought for a detailed report from the authorities.
Rudra Rabha had been arrested by Ri-Bhoi police on April 24 and was remanded in police custody for five days on April 25. He led police to a place in the Ranibari jungle where he had hidden a firearm. Following this, he was returned to Khanapara police station where he allegedly hanged himself just three hours later on April 26.
In a press release today, the MHRC stated that it has asked for a detailed report into the death from the Director General of Police to be submitted by May 17.
There have been more than 50 custodial deaths in Meghalaya since 2012. The Meghalaya High Court had tried to set compensation amounts last year for those who died unnatural deaths in custody but the state government appealed to the Supreme Court and it stayed the High Court order in January this year.