The Hindu : Custodial death sparks mob violence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 12, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Custodial death sparks mob violence

By Anil Sastry

A bus which was stoned by a mob in Doddaballapur on Friday. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

BANGALORE Jan. 11. Police resorted to lathicharge and firing in the air to disperse a mob which was protesting against the custodial death of a 23-year-old youth in Doddaballapur town in Bangalore Rural District on Friday afternoon.

Four buses — three of the KSRTC and one of the APSRTC — and an equal number of cars and jeeps were damaged in stone throwing by the mob in and around the town. Five people, including two policemen, were injured.

The dead, identified as Ramesh, was allegedly done to death in the Doddaballapur Town Police Station.

A case has been registered against the Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), Thammaiah, and the police constable, Nagaraj, and they have been placed under suspension.

Ramesh was taken into custody by Mr. Thammaiah and Mr. Nagaraj at around 12.30 p.m. in connection with the kidnap of a woman. Within half an hour, he was taken to the Government Hospital, and the doctors declared that he was "brought dead".

The Inspector-General of Police (Central Range), K.V.R. Tagore, told The Hindu at Doddaballapur that the case would be handed over to the Corps of Detectives (CoD). He said the Additional Superintendent of Police, B.S. Marthurkar, would inquire into the alleged lapses committed by police.

Ramesh swallowed some powder kept in his pocket when he was being questioned about the whereabouts of the woman who was allegedly kidnapped by him. Soon, he collapsed, and was taken to hospital, Mr. Tagore added.

He said a mob of about 4,000 people gathered near the hospital and indulged in arson and stone throwing.

They brought the body on a stretcher to a place near the police station, and police had to resort to lathicharge and firing in the air to disperse them, Mr. Tagore said.

Regarding the demand for compensation for the family of Ramesh, the Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Rural District, Narayanaswamy said it could not be granted as per law. However, a compensation of about Rs. 10,000 could be provided under the NSIP scheme, as Ramesh was the breadwinner of his family. The payment would be made within four days, he added.

He said the inquest would be conducted on Saturday morning in the presence of the relatives of the dead.

If possible, the services of an expert in forensic science would be utilised. The entire procedure would be videographed, and there was no question of shielding the guilty, he added.

Ramesh is survived by his wife, Radha, and a two-year daughter, Indu.

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