Bhind (Madhya Pradesh), April 10 (IANS): The death of a young man here in police custody, allegedly because he was tortured, triggered public outcry on Sunday and caused the authorities to order a judicial inquiry.

Police said Sunil Yadav, 20, was arrested here on Wednesday on the accusation of theft. He hanged himself in the lock-up late on Saturday night, but his family members asserted that police beat him to death.

Sunil Yadav died at the hands of the personnel of Umri police station who then hanged his body by a noose to make it look like a suicide, said the friends and relatives of the young man.

They staged vociferous protests and blocked traffic here against the alleged police torture and atrocity. Police then used tear gas to disperse the protestors.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Navnit Bhasin told IANS that Umri police station in-charge Rambabu Yadav and three other personnel have been suspended and a judicial inquiry will be conducted into the incident.

"The inquiry will be conducted in line with the guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission," he said.