Six months after the father of seven was tortured to death in the custody of Vijapur Naka police in the Solapur district, the state’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has booked seven policemen. Bhima Rajja Kale, who belonged to the Phase Pardhi tribe that has been frequently targeted by the police, died in October after he was picked up in connection with a theft case. After a massive sit-in protest by his family members, the NHRC’s intervention and a series of reports by mid-day, the CID took over the probe and finally filed the FIR on Thursday. The cops have been currently booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, but the Phase Pardhis want them charged for murder.

Swati Kale, Bhima’s widow, with their children
 
Bhima, 35, died in police custody on October 3 last year, and his family alleged that police had ignored his pleas to get him to a hospital as he was feeling unwell. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Solapur Unit, CID, Shrishail Gaja, conducted the initial investigation and filed an FIR on Thursday, as a complainant, against Senior Inspector Udayshinh Shamrao Patil, Assistant Inspector Shitalkumar Kolhal, constables Shrirang Khandekar, Shivanand Bhimde, Ambadas Gaddam, Atish Patil and Laxman Rathod of Vijapur Naka police.