Alleging shoddy investigation and police atrocities leading to the arrest of three people for the murder of an autorickshaw driver at Bantwal recently, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) on Wednesday launched a 24-hour protest here demanding a re-investigation into the incident.
Friends and family members of the arrested were present. Muneer Katipalla, DYFI State President said Irshad (21), Hussain (20) and Imran (20) – all residents of Mallur in Bantwal taluk - were arrested “without proof” for their involvement in the murder of Rajesh Poojary in Kalpane Banjanapadavu, Bantwal taluk on March 21.
‘No charge-sheet’
He said even though it had been 68 days since the arrest of the trio, the police had “failed” to furnish a motive for the murder or charge sheet the accused.
“The incident was first labelled as revenge for the death of a Popular Front of India member in the area recently. However, this theory has been discredited. After the murder, the police buckled under pressure from right-wing groups and arrested three innocents,” he said.
Among the protesters were the mothers of the three arrested.
While Nebisa, Irshad’s mother, said her son was sleeping in the house at the time of the murder, Shahida, Imran’s mother, said he had left for work at a stone quarry with his uncle.
Qhatu, Hussain’s mother, said he was arrested because he was near the crime scene. “He is a salesman and was selling soaps and other products when the police got a hold of him. They tortured him, and made him reel off his acquaintances,” she said.
Torture claims
All three mothers claimed their sons had been tortured by the police, and threatened not to reveal the torture to the courts.
Imran’s brother, 16-year-old Irfan, claimed he was also arrested and only released after 12 hours in the police station – after the police found out he was a minor.
A police official in the team that investigated the murder, dismissed claims of coercion or torture of the accused. He claimed that there was evidence through “mobile phone records” and other physical evidence to show the involvement of the accused.
