Myanmar agent dies in police custody in T; family cries foul | Hyderabad News
Hyderabad: A 31-year-old man, arrested for alleged involvement trafficking youth to Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, died on Thursday night in Nizamabad while in police custody. Family members of the agent, Alakunta Sampath, accused police of subjecting him to third-degree torture.
Nizamabad police, however, maintained that Sampath died of a heart attack. Police commissioner P Sai Chaitanya said that an independent investigation had been initiated following guidelines of the Supreme Court, National Human Rights Commission, and BNSS protocols.
Sampath, who hailed from Peddapalli district of Telangana, was arrested on March 4 on charges of luring youth from Telangana and sending them to Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, where they were forced into cyber slavery. He had set up a manpower recruitment office in Jagtial.
Sampath was taken into police custody on March 12 to assist with the investigations. Police said Sampath was taken to his office, Srirama International Manpower Consultancy, on March 13, where two mobile phones were seized as part of the investigation. He was brought back to the cyber crime police station in Nizamabad at 9.45 pm. Officials added that two mediators accompanied Sampath and the officers to ensure transparency throughout the process.
At around 10.10 pm, Sampath reportedly complained of fatigue and pain in his left hand. He was taken to the govt general hospital in Nizamabad.
“CCTV footage showed him walking into the hospital on his own,” a police officer said.
The police commissioner added, “At 11.29 pm, Sampath suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, collapsed, and despite efforts by the medical team to revive him, he could not be resuscitated. Doctors confirmed that the cause of death was a massive heart attack.”
Following Sampath’s death, an FIR was registered at I Town police station in Nizamabad, under Section 196 of the BNSS, and an investigation was launched.
“A senior officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police will oversee the investigation. The investigation will be conducted with the utmost transparency, ensuring that all legal and procedural protocols are followed,” Sai Chaitanya added.
However, angry relatives demanded that a murder case be registered against the officers involved and called for their suspension. A tense situation prevailed at the hospital, where Sampath’s family members staged a protest, alleging that he had been tortured to death. They demanded Rs 50 lakh in compensation and a govt job for a member of the family.
Meanwhile, the NHRC has been informed of Sampath’s death, and a judicial inquest is being conducted by the judicial magistrate first class. A team of three forensic experts will perform the post-mortem examination, which will be recorded on video.
Nizamabad police, however, maintained that Sampath died of a heart attack. Police commissioner P Sai Chaitanya said that an independent investigation had been initiated following guidelines of the Supreme Court, National Human Rights Commission, and BNSS protocols.
Sampath, who hailed from Peddapalli district of Telangana, was arrested on March 4 on charges of luring youth from Telangana and sending them to Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, where they were forced into cyber slavery. He had set up a manpower recruitment office in Jagtial.
Sampath was taken into police custody on March 12 to assist with the investigations. Police said Sampath was taken to his office, Srirama International Manpower Consultancy, on March 13, where two mobile phones were seized as part of the investigation. He was brought back to the cyber crime police station in Nizamabad at 9.45 pm. Officials added that two mediators accompanied Sampath and the officers to ensure transparency throughout the process.
At around 10.10 pm, Sampath reportedly complained of fatigue and pain in his left hand. He was taken to the govt general hospital in Nizamabad.
“CCTV footage showed him walking into the hospital on his own,” a police officer said.
The police commissioner added, “At 11.29 pm, Sampath suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, collapsed, and despite efforts by the medical team to revive him, he could not be resuscitated. Doctors confirmed that the cause of death was a massive heart attack.”
Following Sampath’s death, an FIR was registered at I Town police station in Nizamabad, under Section 196 of the BNSS, and an investigation was launched.
“A senior officer of the rank of deputy superintendent of police will oversee the investigation. The investigation will be conducted with the utmost transparency, ensuring that all legal and procedural protocols are followed,” Sai Chaitanya added.
However, angry relatives demanded that a murder case be registered against the officers involved and called for their suspension. A tense situation prevailed at the hospital, where Sampath’s family members staged a protest, alleging that he had been tortured to death. They demanded Rs 50 lakh in compensation and a govt job for a member of the family.
Meanwhile, the NHRC has been informed of Sampath’s death, and a judicial inquest is being conducted by the judicial magistrate first class. A team of three forensic experts will perform the post-mortem examination, which will be recorded on video.
