New Delhi: Despite various sensitisation programmes for police and judiciary personnel, as many as 666 cases of custodial deaths have been received by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in last six months with Uttar Pradesh topping the list.

Out of the 666 cases received by NHRC, Uttar Pradesh reported about 100 cases of custodial deaths in the last six months, the commission sources said. Uttar Pradesh is followed by Bihar, which reported nearly 75 cases of custodial deaths, the sources said.

Maharashtra figures at third place with 69 cases of judicial and police custody deaths reported to the commission, the sources said.

While Andhra Pradesh has reported as many as 58 cases of custodial deaths, Punjab and West Bengal have 40 and 30 cases respectively, according to NHRC's figures for the last six months.

West Bengal is followed by Tamil Nadu with 29 cases, Karnataka, Haryana and Orissa with 25 each and Assam, Kerala, Delhi, Jharkhand with 22 cases each of custodial deaths, NHRC sources said.

PTI