'State is ultimate protector of citizen in police custody'

Suicides in lock-up not the same as deaths by suicide outside. State cannot escape the liability in providing relief to the family of the person who has died in custody, observes SHRC

- PRANALI LOTLIKAR

The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (SHRC), while passing orders in one of the custodial death cases, held that the suicide committed in police lock-up cannot be treated at par with the suicides committed outside. The commission, while asking the state to pace up on paying the compensation to the family of the deceased, reminded the state that it cannot escape the liability in providing relief to the family members of the person who has died in custody, the state being the ultimate protector of the citizen in police custody.