Vijayanagara, Aug 3 (IANS) Two police personnel attached to the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station in Karnataka’s Vijayanagara district were arrested on Monday in connection with the alleged custodial death of a 35-year-old construction labourer, Khaleel, who reportedly died after being assaulted inside the police station.
The case has sparked public outrage, with the district police registering an FIR against the accused officers and a CID probe likely to be ordered.
The arrested policemen have been identified as Head Constable Ittagi Raghavendra and Police Constable Venkatesh. They were taken into custody after an FIR was registered on the complaint of the deceased’s wife, Shainaz, alleging that her husband was assaulted by the police, resulting in his death.
According to the police, Khaleel, a native of Harapanahalli who was working as a construction labourer and residing with his family in Hagaribommanahalli, was brought to the police station late on last Sunday night following a domestic dispute with his wife. Shainaz had approached the police after the couple reportedly quarrelled on a public road.
Family members have alleged that after Khaleel was taken into custody, he was brutally beaten by the policemen with lathis and rods inside the police station. They claimed he died due to the assault and alleged that the police initially attempted to portray the death as a result of an epileptic seizure.
However, relatives said blood was seen oozing from Khaleel’s head, nose and ears and that multiple injury marks were visible on his body, raising serious suspicion of custodial torture.
The complaint lodged by Shainaz led Vijayanagara Superintendent of Police S. Jahnavi to register an FIR against the two policemen at the spot. Both officers were subsequently arrested and are currently being interrogated.
Speaking to reporters, SP Jahnavi said an inquest was conducted in the presence of a magistrate, and the post-mortem examination had been completed. She added that the investigation is expected to be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), and the district police are awaiting orders from senior authorities.
Senior police officials, including Ballari Range Inspector General of Police Dr Harsha, visited the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station and inspected the scene. SP Jahnavi and DySP Mallesh Dodmani remained in Hagaribommanahalli to supervise the investigation and monitor the law and order situation.
The incident triggered widespread protests, with hundreds of people gathering outside the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station and later at the hospital where Khaleel’s body was shifted. Protesters demanded strict action against the policemen responsible for the alleged custodial killing.
A relative of the deceased, Noushad Ali, accused the police of mercilessly assaulting Khaleel over a family dispute.
“There was only a quarrel between husband and wife. The police took him to the station and beat him to death. Who will bring back his life? Is it the duty of the police to assault a person so brutally?” he questioned.
Local JD(S) MLA Nemiraj Naik, representing Hagaribommanahalli, also rushed to the spot, met the grieving family and demanded justice for the deceased while calling for stringent action against the accused policemen.
The custodial death has once again raised concerns over alleged police excesses and the treatment of persons taken into custody. The investigation is expected to gather pace once the case is formally transferred to the CID.
–IANS
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