NCW to probe custodial death of woman in Mumbai

The National Commission for Women will investigate the alleged custodial death of a woman, charged with pickpocketing, in Mumbai.

The NCW decided to probe after taking suo-motu cognizance of local media reports. Thirty-five-year old Vimla Hari Umap, who was arrested last week on charges of pick-pocketing, died in the custody of Mumbai Police.

NCW chairperson Poornima Advani, member Nafisa Hussain, retired Bombay high court judge S M Daud and member of the State Human Rights Commission Vijay Chitnis will be part of the probe team, NCW spokeperson Romi Sharma told PTI.

Local media reported that the woman was picked up for interrogation at a bus stop on June 5 along with three of her accomplices and later charged with pick-pocketing and locked up in Dadar police station.

The reports said the woman was taken to K E M Hospital on June 7, where she died of brain haemorrhage the same day.