Tension grips the Juhapura area of Ahmedabad in Gujarat after the death of Zaheer Shaikh
NEW DELHI — The death of a 70-year-old Muslim man in police custody has ignited tensions in the Juhapura area of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, with his family alleging custodial torture in a case tied to cattle slaughter and beef possession.
Zaheer Shaikh died on Wednesday while in police custody. He was arrested on May 16 in a preventive detention case and was later formally booked for alleged cattle slaughter and possession of 500 kg of beef. His death has sparked outrage across parts of Gujarat.
Shaikh’s family and locals say he was violently assaulted during interrogation. They claim he was beaten, verbally abused, and had his beard pulled. The family also alleges he was made to drink an unknown liquid that caused his health to crash.
According to relatives, Shaikh gave a statement at SVP Hospital before he died, naming specific officers he said were involved. His son, Toufik Sheikh, has filed a complaint with Ahmedabad Police Commissioner G S Malik demanding action. Advocate Nauman Ghanchi said Shaikh was in poor health but was still subjected to physical torture.
A post on X showing the incident has been widely circulated:
The case stems from a May 5 police raid in Vejalpur near Sonal Cinema Road. Officers reported seizing about 520 kg of suspected cattle meat, rescuing a live calf, and recovering slaughter equipment, vehicles, and weighing scales valued at roughly ₹4.66 lakh.
Several people were arrested at the time. Police say Shaikh was among those who fled the scene. Videos that appear to show police beating suspects in public have added to the anger.
Ahmedabad Police have denied the torture allegations, calling them “baseless.” Assistant Commissioner of Police A B Valand said Shaikh had pre-existing health issues, including diabetes, and that his condition worsened after taking the medicine brought by his wife. Police say he was rushed to a hospital and placed under ICU care.
Protests broke out outside SVP Hospital following Shaikh’s death. Police have opened an inquiry into what led to his health deterioration. Records indicate Shaikh had multiple earlier cases involving illegal slaughter, animal cruelty, rioting, and assault, and had been detained under PASA before.
The incident has renewed concerns about custodial safety and police conduct in the region, with both sides awaiting the findings of the official inquiry.
