A 25-year-old man, Dilshad Ansari, died while in police custody in Bihar’s West Champaran district on Monday, October 12, triggering serious allegations from his family and raising questions about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Dilshad had been arrested in connection with a case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Sahodra police station. According to the police, he sustained serious injuries after allegedly jumping from a moving police vehicle while being taken to Sahodra. His family, however, has accused the police of assaulting him in custody and causing his death.
Following the incident, West Champaran Superintendent of Police Kumar Gautam ordered the suspension of six police personnel, including the station house officer of Sahodra police station. An investigation has been initiated into the circumstances of the death.
Dilshad Ansari was a resident of Badhayi Tola in the Auraiya area under Banuchhapar police station in Bettiah, West Champaran.
According to police records, he was an accused in an NDPS case linked to the seizure of 1.83 quintals of cannabis by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) on August 2, 2025. Police arrested him on October 12, 2026, in connection with the case.
According to the police account, Dilshad was being taken from Banuchhapar to Sahodra police station when he allegedly attempted to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle in the area between Shikarpur and Sathi police stations.
He reportedly sustained serious injuries in the incident and was taken to the sub-divisional hospital in Narkatiaganj. He was subsequently referred to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah for further treatment, where doctors declared him dead.
The police have maintained that his injuries resulted from the alleged jump. However, the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation.
Dilshad’s family has disputed the police version and alleged that he was assaulted while in custody.
His father, Akbar Ansari, said a police team arrived at their house at around 2 am on Monday in two vehicles and took his son away, telling the family that he would be questioned.
According to his father, the family was initially informed that Dilshad had sustained an injury to his leg. They later received news of his death.
His wife, Nagma Khatoon, also alleged that police personnel assaulted her husband. The family has questioned the circumstances in which he sustained his fatal injuries and demanded a thorough investigation.
The allegations of custodial assault have not yet been independently established. The exact circumstances of Dilshad’s death will need to be determined through an impartial investigation and the relevant medical and forensic evidence.
In a significant development, six police personnel were suspended following the incident. Those suspended include Sahodra police station SHO Ravi Shankar Kumar, sub-inspector Arun Kumar and four constables, according to reports published on October 13 and 14.
The suspension is an administrative measure pending further proceedings and does not, by itself, establish criminal liability.
Police officials have said that the matter will be investigated in accordance with the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and that appropriate legal action will follow.
Police personnel were deployed at GMCH in Bettiah after the incident. Reports also stated that the post-mortem examination was conducted under a magistrate’s supervision.
Dilshad Ansari’s death has raised serious questions about the events between his arrest and his arrival at the hospital. While the police maintain that he was injured after jumping from a moving vehicle, his family alleges that he was assaulted in custody.
The suspension of six police personnel marks an initial step in the case, but the findings of the investigation, post-mortem examination and other relevant evidence will be crucial in establishing what happened.
An impartial investigation is essential to determine the circumstances of Dilshad’s death and ensure accountability if any wrongdoing is established.
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