Custody procedures under scrutiny after Narsingi drug peddler escape

Following the alleged escape of a drug peddler from Narsingi police station, officials have highlighted strict custody procedures. SOPs include risk assessment, removal of harmful objects, and constant supervision to prevent escapes and self-harm while ensuring detainee safety in police lock-ups.

HYDERABAD: The alleged escape of drug peddler Muzaffar from Narsingi police station has once again brought into focus the practices governing the custody of suspects in police stations and those brought on remand. Senior police officers say these Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are meant not only to prevent escapes but also to safeguard detainees.

Not following prescribed procedures could create serious legal and administrative consequences for the officers concerned, a senior police officer said. Some suspects resort to self-harm in an attempt to avoid interrogation or the legal process, making constant supervision vital.

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According to an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), after a suspect is brought to a police station, his physical build, agility, and behaviour are assessed before deciding whether to lodge him in a lock-up or keep him under separate supervision. “If he can reach the ventilator, electrical wiring or light fittings, alternative arrangements are made. Every suspect is handled according to the risk involved,” he said.

Police officials said lock-ups are inspected before a detainee is confined. Broken glass, metal objects, utensils, and other materials that could be used for self-harm are removed, while ventilator grills, doors, and other fixtures are checked for possible escape routes.

A senior Detective Inspector said every suspect is frisked before entering the lock-up.

“Footwear, belts, chains, mobile phones and similar items are taken away. If there is a risk that detainees may attack each other or try to strangle someone using their clothes, they are kept only in undergarments as a precaution,” the officer said.

Washrooms are one of the most vulnerable areas during custody. An official of the Central Crime Station (CCS) said there have been instances where suspects attempted to consume phenyl or acid kept in washrooms or used razor blades left behind after shaving to injure themselves. “There have been instances of suspects attempting suicide in washrooms, leading to inquiries against the personnel concerned,” the CCS official said.

Another police official said at least two policemen escort a detainee to the washroom. Depending on the risk involved, the suspect is handcuffed, kept under watch with the washroom door partially open, or restrained using a long chain held by an escorting policeman outside.

Officials also said Indian-style floor-mounted toilets are preferred in police lock-ups as they reduce the chances of detainees climbing onto fixtures to reach ventilators or attempting self-harm.