Protests have erupted in a Mysuru village after a man arrested by the police died in custody.
Devaraj (40), a resident of Hunsur village, was found dead in police custody on Thursday night.
An arrest warrant was issued against the deceased after he failed to pay alimony to his ex-wife whom he had allegedly attempted to murder.
When the police went to arrest Devaraj from his house in Ratnapuri Colony, he and his mother Chikkamma allegedly set fire to the motorcycle on which the police had arrived. Devaraj attempted to flee but was caught by the police.
Villagers allege that the police assaulted him, and that he died on the way to the hospital.
Mysuru district SP Abhinav Khare told The News Minute: “This technically falls under the definition of custodial death. We have followed NHRC guidelines on custodial deaths and the case has been transfereed to the CID.”
He said that an FIR invoking the legal provisions for custodial death had been filed against four constables and the sub-inspector. A magisterial enquiry according to law is also underway, he added.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has told the media that he was aware of the custodial death and assured a fair probe. “If there is any lapse on the part of the police, action will be taken,” he said.
It was only in July that there were allegations against the Mangaluru police of having had a hand in David D’Souza's death, while he was in custody.