Patna, Sept. 16: A teenager picked up for interrogation by the Siwan police in connection with a high-profile theft case died in police custody under mysterious circumstances on Thursday night. He is the second person to die in the custody of Bihar police within a week.

Police claimed 19-year-old Govind Rajbhar, a Mahadalit hailing from Naya Bazaar locality of Siwan town, committed suicide. The victim’s relatives blamed the police excesses for his death.

Rajbhar’s death triggered widespread protest today by the local residents and political party activists of the district, who fought a pitched battle with the police for several hours. Tension has gripped the town after a violent clash between the cops and the protesters.

A leader of the CPI(ML), Amarjeet Kushwaha, who had unsuccessfully contested the state Assembly elections from Ziradei in Siwan district, was among a dozen of persons injured in the police lathicharge.

Sources said Rajbhar, a paldar (a man who unloads bags from commercial vehicles), was taken into custody for interrogation in connection with the theft in the house of district prosecution officer Jitendra Singh on Wednesday night.

Unofficial sources claimed that Rajbhar was detained while another suspect was released from the police station under pressure.

Station house officer (SHO) of Town police station Prem Sagar said Rajbhar committed suicide by strangulating himself with a piece of cloth (blanket). “Usne kumbal ko phar kar fansi laga liya (he committed suicide by tearing a blanket),” he told The Telegraph. (Blankets are given to detainees in police lock-up for taking rest at night.)

The SHO said a constable deputed at the police station had seen Rajbhar tying his neck with the piece of cloth. He immediately intervened and Rajbhar was rushed to Sadar hospital around 8pm, where he later died.

Sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Ashok Kumar Singh refuted the claim of the victim’s kin that Rajbhar was taken into custody on Wednesday.

“When the incident occurred on Thursday, the question of taking Rajbhar in custody for interrogation on Wednesday does not arise,” he said, adding that Rajbhar was apprehended around 3pm on Thursday.

The SDPO said Rajbhar was a notorious thief. He was involved in at least three other similar cases and chargesheeted in a few cases. “He was released on bail after spending about six months in jail,” he added.

The CPI(ML) leader Kushwaha, however, said the police told the victim’s family late on Thursday night that he (Rajbhar) had been admitted to the hospital for treatment. “When the family members reached the hospital they were shocked to find Rajbhar dead,” Kushwaha added.

As the news of Rajbhar’s death in police custody spread in the morning, a large number of people gathered near Sadar hospital and shouted anti-police slogans and demanded immediate arrest of the station house officer of the police station concerned.

When the police tried to disperse the mob, the protesters pelted stones and indulged in vandalism. The police had to use force to quell the rampaging crowd that swelled near the police action. The situation came under control after intervention of senior police and administrative officials.

Deputy inspector-general (Saran range) Sunil Kumar said instructions had been given to adhere to the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with regard to custodial death.

“A magisterial inquiry will be conducted and the post-mortem video recorded,” he said.

Siwan superintendent of police Amrit Raj said a formal recommendation has been sent to the district magistrate for a magisterial inquiry. “All the norms of the NHRC will be followed,” he said, adding that stringent action would be taken against the cops found to be guilty of negligence, which resulted in the death of the detainee.

The SP said Rajbhar was arrested in connection with a case (No. 187/11) lodged with Town police station.

“A detailed inquiry is on into the incident. Once the situation in the town becomes normal, we will focus on the investigation,” he told The Telegraph over phone.

Siwan MP Om Prakash Yadav has demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of Rajbhar and adequate compensation to the victim’s family.

The CPI(ML) activists alleged that Rajbhar’s body was consigned to flames by the family members under police pressure. “They wanted to take the body to the native village but the police did not allow them to do so,” they said.

This is the second incident of custodial death in the state within a week.

On September 10, Shanker Choudhary, 42, had died in lock-up of the Dehri police station in Rohtas district.