Lucknow, Nov 24 (IANS): A police officer has been accused of beating a jeweller to death in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur district, police said Thursday.

Ram Kumar, 48, died Wednesday after police inspector Amar Singh allegedly repeatedly assaulted him with a wooden stick in Mistanganj locality.

According to police, Singh visited Ram Kumar's residence in the Mistanganj locality to take the statement of his son, who was accused of hitting a local with his motorbike. On not finding the son, Singh got furious and brutally assaulted Ram Kumar, police said.

After Singh left the place, Ram Kumar was seen lying in a pool of blood and died of injuries before he could be taken to hospital.

"Preliminary inquiry indicates Amar Singh's involvement in the death," Additional Superintendent of Police Shafeeq Ahmad told reporters in Rampur, some 250 km from Lucknow.

"He has been suspended and a detailed inquiry is under way to ascertain whether other policemen were also involved in assaulting the jeweller," he added.