A 35-year-old man, arrested on the costs of stealing sheep, was discovered lifeless below suspicious circumstances in police custody in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district on Tuesday, officers within the know of the matter mentioned on Tuesday.

Anantapur superintendent of police (SP) Dr Kaginelli Fakkerappa informed reporters that the deceased was recognized as Kuruba Ramanjaneyulu of Sanapa village of Atmakur block.

“He was discovered hanging from the ceiling fan within the pc room of the Rayadurgam city police station within the early hours,” he mentioned.

The SP additional mentioned that Rayadurgam city police inspector Srinivasa Rao, constables Madhu Babu and Ganganna and residential guard Ramesh have been positioned below suspension for dereliction of their duties, following the orders of Anantapur vary deputy inspector common (DIG) M Ravi Prakash.

The SP requested Anantapur in-charge deputy SP Mahboob Basha to conduct a departmental inquiry and submit a report for additional motion.

The SP mentioned Ramanjaneyulu, with one other particular person named Srinivasulu, was caught red-handed by the native villagers on the outskirts of Rayadurgam stealing sheep on Monday night. The villagers thrashed them earlier than handing them to the police.

“Each the accused have been subsequently shifted to Rayadurgam police station and stored within the lock-up room. On Tuesday morning, the physique of Ramanjaneyulu was discovered hanging from a ceiling fan along with his lungi within the pc room,” Fakkerrappa mentioned.

Because the report was flashed on the native tv channels, the SP visited Rayadurgam police station and enquired in regards to the incident. He requested the police why Ramanjaneyulu, who was imagined to be within the lock-up, was discovered hanging within the pc room.

After the preliminary inquiry, the SP suspended the inspector and 4 different cops pending a departmental inquiry.

“The physique of the deceased was despatched for post-mortem as per the rules of the Nationwide Human Rights Fee (NHRC). A magisterial inquiry can be carried out into the incident,” he added.