Family alleges police beat up auto driver

Brother Bhuvanesh said though Deepak, to whom they'd lent money, had lodged a complaint only against him, the police had picked up his brother too.Brother Bhuvanesh said though Deepak, to whom they'd lent money, had lodged a complaint only against him, the police had picked up his brother too.Brother Bhuvanesh said though Deepak, to whom they'd lent money, had lodged a complaint only against him, the police had picked up his brother too.BANGALORE: The alleged custodial death of Manjunath is shrouded in mystery. His brother Bhuvanesh said though Deepak, to whom they'd lent money, had lodged a complaint only against him, the police had picked up his brother too. Bhuvanesh, who was at the station all the while, showed injuries on his body, as proof of police brutality. He alleged that PSI Siddalingaiah had beaten Manjunath severely and ASI Nagaraj had not taken him to hospital.
Manjunath and Bhuvanesh went to Deepak's place to recover the Rs 10,000 lent to him six months ago. This triggered a quarrel and the police said Manjunath and Bhuvanesh assaulted Deepak who then called the police control room and complained about the assault. The control room alerted the RT Nagar police.
PSI Siddalingaiah, on his night rounds, ordered that Manjunath and Bhuvanesh be picked up. Police commissioner Shankar Bidari said while the police went to their house, Deepak, his brother Karthik and father Chandramohan assaulted them. They were brought to the police station around 1.30 am.
When Manjunath complained of chest pain, Mohan Kumar, Manjunath's friend, asked ASI Nagaraj at the station to take him to hospital. But, Mohan Kumar stated there was no vehicle at the station and instead asked him to go and bring some medicine. Though Mohan Kumar rushed out, he couldn't find any medicine.
Manjunath's condition worsened and he was taken to a private hospital in a Hoysala. The doctors there advised Manjunath be shifted to a bigger hospital. When the police took him to Mahaveer Jain Hospital, he was declared brought dead.
COVER UP ACT?: Around 6.30 am on Saturday, the police took a complaint by Bhuvanesh against Deepak, his brother Karthik, father Chandramohan of murdering Manjunath. Police claimed that Deepak and his family had hammered Manjunath and that had caused Manjunath's death. The police confirmed all the four persons have no criminal records.
Police commissioner Shankar Bidari said, "Since Bhuvanesh alleged that Siddalingaiah had beaten up Manjunath and Nagaraj had not provided immediate medical intervention, they will be put under suspension pending inquiry.''
Manjunath's body is in the mortuary at Bowring Hospital and an inquest is being done by the executive magistrate and two doctors. Bidari also stated that if it's proved that the death was due to improper police duty, the family of the deceased will be suitably compensated.
The State Human Rights Commission chairman Justice S R Nayak, who visited the police station, came down heavily on the police. "People come to police stations believing they are safe places, as police are upholders of the law. If police resort to such acts, then where should people go for protection? Who will police the police?'' he said.
Justice Nayak said the SHRC would investigate the case and if Siddalingaiah and Nagaraj are found guilty, they would be prosecuted.
The commission issued general instructions in 1993 that within 24 hours of occurrence of any custodial death, the commission must be informed about it. This information was to be followed with a post-mortem Report, magisterial inquest report/ videography report of the post-mortem, etc.
The commission also instructed that all reports including post-mortem, video graph and magisterial inquiry reports must be sent within two months of the incident. Post-mortem reports have to be sent in a proforma, designed by the commission. In every case of custodial death, a magisterial inquiry should be conducted as directed by the commission. The inquiry should be completed as soon as possible and such that it is also made available within two months.
In Karnataka, the investigation into the custodial deaths are referred to CoD for investigation.