Daijiworld Media Network - Madikeri (SP)

Madikeri, Jun 13: A person from Virajpet who was suffering from psychological disorders and epilepsy, is said to have been savagely beaten up by the Virajpet police in the district. He was admitted into a private hospital in the town in a precarious condition, where he breathed his last. A case making the said allegations against the police has been registered.

The person who lost his life in this incident has been identified as Roy D'Souza (50) from Virajpet.

Different political parties and organizations have expressed anger at the insensitive act of the police. In a complaint handed over to the district superintendent of police, brother of the deceased, Robin D'Souza, demanded strict action against the guilty polcie officer and other staff involved with the incident.

Roy D'Souza had been suffering from unsound mind and epilepsy from the last some years. On the night of June 9, he had left home and was found loitering on the road with a sickle in hand. When the beat police reached the spot, Roy allegedly flashed his sickle at them. It is said that the hand of one of the police constables was injured.

The police then took Roy D'Souza to the police station where they allegedly severely assaulted him. He collapsed to the ground. Later, they contacted Roy's mother, Metilda Lobo, and asked her to take her son away. After reaching home, the family members found injury marks on his body. Therefore they admitted Roy into a private hospital for treatment.

It is said that the policemen came there, advised the family to admit Roy into a hospital at Mangaluru and allegedly pressured Metilda to file complaint stating that the general public had attacked her son. Roy breathed his last without responding to treatment on Saturday June 12.

The Christian community here, which feels that the police have caused Roy's death by their unjustified assault, has expressed strong resentment at the development. District superintendent of police, Kshama Mishra, said that investigation will be held as per law and that the probe will also cover the issue of mental disorder of the deceased. She said that based on the investigation report, disciplinary action will be initiated against those found guilty.

Eight cops suspended

South zone inspector general of police, Praveen Pawar, who visited the spot and conducted inspection, prima facie found the allegations made against the policemen to be true. He suspended eight police personnel including thie head constable on the spot. He also said that the case will be handed over to the criminal investigation department (CID) for investigation.

Pawar who visited the police station on Saturday went to the spot and spoke to media persons He informed that based on the complaint made by the family of the deceased against the policemen, Virajpet deputy superintendent of police (DySP), Jayakumar, who conducted preliminary investigation, submitted a report to the district superintendent of police (SP), on the basis of which he said, the policemen as above were suspended from service.

Priest of St Annes Church Virajpet, Madalai Muthu, said that the IGP and SP have promised impartial investigation. SP, Kshama Mishra, DySP Jayakumar, town panchayat members, Augustine Benny and Prathvinath and youth Congress leaders were present.