Preeti, the widow of deceased Dalit prisoner Aakash Kumar, detailed the traumatic events leading to her husband’s death, claiming that police demanded Rs 50,000 for his release shortly after his detention. While she was trying to gather the money, she received news of his death.

On Friday morning, two officers, in ordinary clothing visited Aakash’s home, obtaining his father’s signature on a blank piece of paper before informing the family of his demise. “They coerced us into cremating the body early on Saturday,” Preeti stated. She has called for strict punishment for the officers involved.