Bengaluru: Man alleges torture by police, cops deny claim

BENGALURU: A painter has accused DJ Halli police of custodial torture and implicating him a false case. He has filed a complaint with city Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar. The painter, Vinod, is a resident of Arogyadas Nagar in DJ Halli. He alleged he was beaten up by the K.G. Haill police and later admitted to Bowring Hospital for treatment. In his complaint, Vinod stated that on June 29 around 10 pm his  relative Nanda Kumar had come to his house to accompany him for an errand.

As he stepped out, two constables from KG Halli police were waiting and they took him in an auto rickshaw. The complainant said that the cops then stopped the auto near Tannery Road, and took him to one jewellery shop. “The cops entered the shop and threatened the owner to handover a gold chain, ring and Rs 20,000 in cash. I had no idea what was going on. From there the cops took me to police station and assaulted me. They forced me to confess that I had stolen jewellery. They also told me that if I agree to their demands they would give me money and let me walk scot-free. They also told me that, since it was month-end and if they don’t close the case, the DCP will initiate action against them. But I refused to confess for something I have not done,” the complainant stated.

The policemen later physically assaulted me and even threatened to kill me. Later my father came to the police station and bribed them to let me go, the complainant added. However, when this newspaper contacted the DJ Halli police station, the official refuted the charges and claimed that Vinod was involved in the burglary. During investigation the team had sized a gold chain, ring and mobile phone from Vinod and his father. The official said the jurisdictional police station was ready for a detailed inquiry.