A man arrested in Jharkhand over WhatsApp messages on beef found inflammatory by the police died in custody on Sunday. Minhaz Ansari's family alleges that he was beaten up and tortured by the police.

When Minhaz, 22, was shown to the media last week after his arrest, he was slumped against a wall, his face covered, and he appeared limp. His condition raised suspicion that he was unable to walk or even stand without support.

Four days later, he was dead.

Confronting allegations of excesses, the police have ordered an inquiry but claim Minhaz died of encephalitis. They admit to "lapses" by police officer Harish Pathak, who was in charge of the arrest and questioning. Mr Pathak has been suspended and charged with murder.

Minhaz was detained along with a few others on October 2. He was arrested a day later while the rest were allowed to go. The police defended his arrest, saying he was the administrator of the WhatsApp group circulating a message on beef that had the potential to disturb communal peace so close to Dussehra and Muharram.