New Delhi: Taking serious note of police officials "concealing facts" in a case of custodial death, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Uttar Pradesh (UP) government to pay Rs one lakh to the next of kin of the victim, who was allegedly tortured to death in custody.

NHRC, which received a complaint by one Bhagwan Devi of Aligarh alleging that her brother Bholu had been tortured to death by Railway Protection Force personnel, issued an order to the state chief secretary for the immediate payment of relief to the next of kin of the victim.

Earlier, in response to NHRC's notice to the state chief secretary demanding a report into the incident, superintendent of police of Aligarh had said that Bholu was arrested and produced before the Railway Magistrate and then remanded to judicial custody. Since he had sustained injuries, he was admitted to the district hospital, where he expired, the report said.

Meanwhile, NHRC also received the magisterial inquiry report of the case confirming that the accused had received injuries while in custody, which had resulted into his death and held the concerned police officials guilty of "concealing the facts and submitting false report", the Commission said.

Considering the facts, NHRC, which earlier issued show-cause notice as to why interim relief should not be paid to victim's family, then ordered immediate payment of Rs one lakh to the next of kin of Bholu.

PTI