Bengaluru: Riots broke out in Lakshmipuram near Kempegowda Nagar after a cab driver, Pradeep, committed suicide on Saturday afternoon. His friend Srinivas alleged that Pradeep committed suicide after facing harassment at the hands of policemen at the Kempegowda Nagar police station.
Srinivas said that a police officer demanded Rs 50,000 as a bribe to release Pradeep (24), who was detained on Wednesday following complaints from his neighbours that he was creating trouble in the area after getting drunk. Srinivas said, “Pradeep’s relatives later settled for Rs 15,000 and reached the money to the police officer on Friday night. My friend was released around 11.30 pm.”
He said, “Pradeep was not given food for three days in the police lock-up. He was humiliated and was in deep pain.” Pradeep was found hanging from the ceiling of his house around 3.45 pm on Saturday, by his father Eeranna. Soon, friends, relatives and neighbours came out on the street protesting against the police high handedness.
Area MLA Ravi Subramanyam said, “Pradeep is said to have told his friend that he was assaulted when in custody and that was the reason he was hanging himself. We will collect all information regarding the policemen in question. I have demanded a thorough investigation, which will reveal the reasons behind his arrest and whether he was assaulted.”
It is alleged that six policemen threatened Pradeep that they would foist rape charges against him if his relatives did not pay the money.
Srinivas said, “His body bore injuries of torture. It will be revealed in the postmortem report.”
Inspector Nagaraj C.D. has been suspended and an inquiry into the incident will be completed within 24 hours, said Mr Alok Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Police, Law and Order. The victim's father had lodged a complaint with the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Chamarajpet about the alleged torture by Kempagowda Nagar police. Rohini Sepat Katoch, DCP South-East, will be the investigating the case.
