Judicial Probe Launched After Death of Accused in Chhattisgarh

Prashant Sahu, a 27-year-old man arrested in connection with the murder of deputy sarpanch Raghunath Sahu in Chhattisgarh's Kabirdham district, died in jail, prompting a judicial inquiry. Sahu was among 69 individuals detained following an incident where Raghunath Sahu's house was set ablaze, leading to his death, reportedly in retaliation for the suspected murder of another villager, Kachru Sahu. After complaining of health issues, Sahu was transferred to a hospital on Wednesday where he was pronounced dead; he had a history of seizure disorder and alcoholism. In response to the incident, Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced the suspension of Kabirdham's Additional Superintendent of Police, Vikas Kumar, and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Sahu's family. The police are investigating allegations of abuse during custody, as some detainees reportedly showed signs of injury. Further examinations, including an autopsy, are pending to determine the exact cause of Sahu's death.