Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan (SP)
Hassan, Mar 13: Accusing police personnel of Gandasi station of brutally beating him up after accusing him of having been involved with theft, a farmer consumed poison in front of Arasikere rural polide station in the district and ended his life. The man who felt insulted and humiliated, and decided not to live with his sullied image, has been identified as Shivananje Gowda (55), resident of Bisalahalli in Arasikere taluk in the district. The incident happened on Sunday March 12 morning.
The family members have charged Gandasi police station sub-inspector (SI), Yasmeen Taj, and BJP leader, Akash Hiriyapppa, of being responsible for Gowda's death. The district superintendent of police (SP) has suspended the SI pending inquiry.
Shivananje Gowda had been managing 7.5 acres of land belonging to a person named 'Mayor Puttaraju' from Bisilahalli village since the last 15 years. Puttaraju had entered into agreement of sale relating to this land with Akash Hiriyappa from Arasikere, a BJP leader, about a month back. Puttaraju had asked Gowda not to work in the field anymore as he had decided to sell it to Hiriyappa. It is said that on Friday, Puttaraju arrived at the village and asked Shivananje Gowda to continue to work in the said land as usual, duly informing him that the agreement of sale pertaining to the land has been cancelled. It is said that Gowda was also permitted to cut down two coconut and a mango tree.
On Saturday, Shivananje Gowda had cut down the trees and was transporting the logs through a tractor via Gandasi hand post, when Akash Hiriyappa, who came to know about it, contacted Yasmeen Taj and complained that trees in his land were being stolen. The sub-inspector, who raided the tractor, took Shivananje Gowda to the police station, and allegedly accused him of stealing the trees. After beating him up, she reportedly got a confession executed by him, besides levying a fine of Rs 1,200. Gowda contacted his son living at Hunsur over phone and explained to him what had happened. The son, it is said, advised Gowda to get admitted into a hospital, get a medical certificate, and then complain to senior officers. On Saturday evening, Gowda got admitted into a hospital at Arasikere. Gowda's son, Santosh, claimed that his father was threatened even at the hospital.
Feeling insulted and let down, Shivananje Gowda wrote down a suicide note accusing Yasmeen Taj and Akash Hiriyappa of atrocities, and consumed poison in front of Arasikere rural police station. He then went to the office of the circle inspector of Arasikere rural station, handed over the complaint, and told the officer that he had consumed poison. By the time he finished what he was saying, he collapsed. Although he was taken immediately to Arasikere taluk hospital and then to Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences, he could not be saved.
District superintendent of police, Rahul Kumar Shahpurwad, suspended Gandasi SI, Yaseem Taj, on the allegation of assault and posing threats. After postmortem, the police, who came to know that a protest had been planned, directly took the body to Bisalahalli. Angered by this, family members held protest opposite hospital. The SP said that investigation will be held on all the aspects as per the complaint.