Indian Muslim held for ‘WhatsApp message on beef’ dies in custody

Minhaj Ansari, 22-year-old resident of Jharkhand, was beaten up and tortured in police custody, claims family

A Muslim youth in an eastern Indian state has reportedly died of police torture nearly a week after being arrested for allegedly sharing 'objectionable' WhatsApp message on beef.

Minhaj Ansari, a 22-year-old resident of Jamtara district of Jharkhand, died on Sunday at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi, Indian media reported on Wednesday.

While Ansari’s family claimed that he was beaten up and tortured in police custody, police said that the victim had been suffering from encephalitis – inflammation of the brain, often due to infection.

The police sources, however, confessed that there was prima facie lapse by the investigation officer concerned – sub-inspector Harish Pathak, officer in-charge of Narayanpura police station.



The police official has since been suspended and a case accusing him of Ansari’s murder has also been registered against Pathak.

“A message on WhatsApp that appeared to have made objectionable comments on beef began making the rounds at Dighari village in Jamtara district on October 2,” according to The Indian Express. A few suspects were detained, but were later released but Ansari was placed in police custody on October 3.

Umar Sheikh, the victim’s father, later came to know that his son had sustained injuries during custody and was shifted to a hospital in Dhanbad district. “They went to the police station along with other villagers. There was a scuffle at the police station between Ansari's parents and officer-in-charge Harish Pathak,” Jamtara Deputy Commissioner of Police Ramesh Kumar Dubey said.

“The Ansari's family has filed a written complaint against Pathak, following which an FIR of attempt to murder and outraging the modesty of a woman was registered against him. The officer was suspended immediately. After Ansari's death, the attempt to murder charge has been changed to a murder charge,” the police official added.



Ansari was shifted to RIMS on October 7 where he died two days later. “While an inquiry is on, the medical reports indicate that Ansari was suffering from encephalitis. It appears that the officer-in-charge did not check on this,” Jamtara Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Singh said while denying allegations that the Ansari's family was not informed about his medical condition.

“We took action because the WhatsApp message, with some comments about beef, had the potential to disturb communal peace coming so close to Dussehra and Muharram. The situation is peaceful now and we are keeping a strict watch,” he added.

This article originally appeared on The Indian Express.