The family of 18-year-old Salmaan, a resident of Myuri Khurd village in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly’s Bhuta area, has accused the local police of driving him to suicide through repeated harassment and physical assault.
Salmaan’s father, Ashfaq, claimed his son was targeted because of their Muslim identity, alleging that police tortured him and threatened to send him to “kala pani” (a colonial-era term for severe imprisonment).
The incident has sparked outrage in the village, with locals expressing fear and anger toward the police.
Following public uproar, the Senior Superintendent of Police suspended Nawabpura outpost in-charge Rajkumar Singh.
According to the family, Salmaan was accused of eloping with a minor girl from Satman village, 40 km away in the Kyoladiya area. The girl’s family had filed a missing person report, and police summoned Salmaan for questioning after his number appeared in the girl’s call records.
Ashfaq alleged that on April 26, Inspector Crime Shravan Kumar and Station House Officer Jitendra Kumar beat Salmaan at the Kyoladiya police station, leaving visible bruises on his back and shoulders.
The family claims Salmaan was summoned daily for 10 days, subjected to beatings, and threatened with jail.
“He was innocent,” Ashfaq told Dainik Bhaskar. “They beat him so badly his skin was peeled off. I paid ₹6,500 and ₹50,000 as bribes to the police, borrowing money, but they kept harassing him.”
Salmaan’s mother, Mehrun Nisha, recounted her son’s distress: “He said, ‘Ma, the police beat me so much. They’ve ruined my life. Save me from them.’”
Overwhelmed, she fainted during the conversation.
On May 1, Salmaan, a tailor who supported his parents and eight siblings, allegedly took his own life by hanging.
His sister Amreen, one of six sisters, tearfully said, “We were preparing for his wedding, but the police killed him. We’re orphaned now.”
The family, struggling financially, had to borrow money for Salmaan’s burial.
Villagers alleged that Salmaan’s only “fault” was having the girl’s number in his call records. They claimed his body was covered in bruises, contradicting the police’s narrative.
“His body was blue from the beatings,” a local told Dainik Bhaskar.
The community staged protests, demanding action against the police for what they called a “murder.”
Superintendent of Police (North) Mukesh Mishra said Salmaan was called for questioning on April 27 with his family present, as his number appeared in the missing girl’s call detail record (CDR).
He denied allegations of custodial violence, stating that an investigation into the accusations against the inspector is underway.
Circle Officer Sandeep Singh claimed the marks on Salmaan’s body were post-mortem changes from the suicide, not evidence of assault.
A case has been filed against the girl’s family, though details were not disclosed.
The incident has intensified distrust between the village’s minority community and the police, with Salmaan’s family demanding justice.
