Police: No foul play in youth's death during Hazare's fast

The city police today told a Delhi court that no foul play was detected in the death of a 21-year-old youth, who was found unconscious at Ramlila Maidan during activist Anna Hazare's fast there and was admitted to a nearby hospital where he breathed his last the next day.

The police made the submission before Metropolitan Magistrate Tyagita Singh in its second status report on its probe into a complaint by Haryana resident Satbir Singh who had accused Hazare and his team of instigating people against the government during Hazare's 13-day anti-graft fast at Ramlila Maidan between August 16 and 29. Quoting a news report, Singh had also told the court that 21-year-old youth Sandeep had participated in Hazare's hunger strike and died of pneumonia for which he had held Team Anna responsible. The police filed its second status report in compliance with the court's September 19 order. "The statements of the family members of the deceased were taken. They have not revealed any doubt in the death of the deceased. No foul play is noticed in his death," the police said in its report. In the status report, the Kamla Market police station in-charge said Sandeep was brought from Ramlila Maidan, the venue of Hazare's fast, and was admitted in LNJP hospital on August 23 in an unconscious state. Sandeep died the next day during treatment and his relatives were informed about it, the police said. Referring to medical reports of Sandeep, police said that "the death summary of deceased revealed the cause of death is complicated malaria." The report also mentioned about permissions granted by the city police and Municipal Corporation of Delhi to Team Anna for holding the fast. Regarding Singh's allegations that Hazare and his team "instigated" public through their speeches at Ramilila ground, the police said "on receipt of date and time of speeches from complainant, the recording from the media will be taken accordingly to proceed further in the inquiry." The court listed the matter for further hearing on October 21. Earlier the court, which was scheduled to pass an order on the complaint on September 19, had felt that the status report filed by the police on September 16 was not backed by any documentary evidence and therefore had sought a fresh report. Police on September 16 had told the court that no criminal case is made out against Hazare and his team.