Gaya deputy superintendent of police Pankaj Rawat. Picture by Suman

Gaya, April 22: Following the death of a physically challenged youth in police custody, which evoked violent protests on Thursday evening, the state government has transferred city deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Pankaj Rawat to Patna headquarters and ordered suspension of in-charge station house officer (SHO) of civil lines police station Umesh Chandra Jha.

The state government has asked Magadh range deputy inspector-general (DIG) of police Umesh Kumar to conduct an inquiry into the case. Relatives of the deceased youth lodged an FIR with civil lines police station, naming four persons as accused. No police official has been named in the FIR as an accused.

Satish Kumar (22), a physically challenged youth from Gewal Bigha locality under civil lines police station, was caught by the residents of the area on charges of theft, late on Wednesday evening. After thrashing the accused themse-lves, the residents took him to the civil lines police station. Later, Satish died in police custody on Thursday.

The death of the youth evoked violent protests on Thursday evening and irate mob torched two vehicles, including the jeep of district transport officer, pelted stones on the civil lines police station, blocked the road near Kashinath Mor and burnt tyres to vent their ire. Meanwhile, Satish’s body was handed over to his relatives after a post-mortem conducted at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College and Hospital.

Satish is survived by wife, four-year-old daughter and one-year-old son.

On the direction of chief minister Nitish Kumar, senior JD (U) leader Arvind Kumar Singh and Anuj Kumar Singh visited the ANMMCH today. Arvind told The Telegraph that the chief minister had announced financial relief to the family as per the provisions of human rights commission. Anuj Singh said that the affected family was provided immediate relief of Rs 10,000 in addition to Rs 1500 under Kabir Antyeshthi Yojana.

When contacted, Magadh range DIG Umesh Kumar told The Telegraph that the city DSP had been transferred to Patna headquarters and the in-charge SHO has been suspended.