Kolkata: The West Bengal government on August 5 suspended six policemen and initiated departmental proceedings against them in connection with the death of two under-trials on August 2 inside the lock-up of the Malda court.

"I have gone through a report on the incident. The deaths occurred because so many under-trials were kept inside small rooms. We have decided to suspend six police personnel who were on duty at the spot when the incident occurred," Bhattacharjee told reporters in Kolkata.

Departmental proceedings have also been initiated against them, he said.

The two under-trials died after 262 of them were herded into two windowless lock-ups of the Malda court designed to accommodate 45 prisoners each. Six other under-trials fell ill in the lock-up and were hospitalised.

The deaths evoked widespread resentment throughout Malda district and both the Congress and the Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) observed a bandh on August 3 in protest against the incident.

PTI