Karnataka Police Officers Arrested Following Alleged Custodial Death

Incident Overview

Vijayanagara, Aug 3: In a troubling incident, two officers from the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station in Karnataka's Vijayanagara district were taken into custody on Monday. This follows the alleged custodial death of a 35-year-old construction worker named Khaleel, who reportedly succumbed to injuries sustained during an assault at the police station.

Public Reaction and Investigation

The case has ignited significant public outrage, prompting the district police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against the implicated officers, with a Criminal Investigation Department (CID) inquiry anticipated.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Head Constable Ittagi Raghavendra and Police Constable Venkatesh. Their arrest came after Khaleel's wife, Shainaz, lodged a complaint alleging that her husband was beaten by the police, leading to his death.

Details of the Incident

Khaleel, originally from Harapanahalli, was working as a construction laborer and living with his family in Hagaribommanahalli. He was taken to the police station late Sunday night following a domestic dispute with his wife, who had sought police assistance after a public altercation.

Family members claim that once in custody, Khaleel was severely beaten with sticks and rods by the officers. They assert that he died as a result of this assault, alleging that the police initially tried to misrepresent the cause of death as an epileptic seizure.

Evidence of Assault

Relatives reported seeing blood coming from Khaleel's head, nose, and ears, along with numerous visible injuries on his body, raising serious concerns about custodial abuse.

Following Shainaz's complaint, Vijayanagara Superintendent of Police S. Jahnavi promptly registered an FIR against the two officers. Both were arrested and are currently under interrogation.

Official Response

SP Jahnavi informed the media that an inquest was conducted with a magistrate present, and the post-mortem examination has been completed. She indicated that the investigation would likely be transferred to the CID, pending directives from higher authorities.

Senior police officials, including Dr. Harsha, the Inspector General of Police for Ballari Range, visited the Hagaribommanahalli Police Station to assess the situation. SP Jahnavi and DySP Mallesh Dodmani remained on-site to oversee the investigation and maintain public order.

Community Outcry

The incident has led to widespread protests, with hundreds gathering outside the police station and later at the hospital where Khaleel's body was taken. Demonstrators are demanding accountability for the officers involved in the alleged custodial death.

A relative, Noushad Ali, criticized the police for their brutal treatment of Khaleel over a minor family dispute, questioning the morality of such actions.

Political Involvement

Local JD(S) MLA Nemiraj Naik visited the scene to meet with Khaleel's family, advocating for justice and calling for severe penalties against the accused officers.

This tragic custodial death has reignited discussions about police brutality and the treatment of individuals in custody. The investigation is expected to accelerate once the case is officially handed over to the CID.