Mangaluru, Jul 6: A delegation of activists on Monday met S Murugan, Commissioner of Mangaluru City Police, seeking immediate action regarding immediate action regarding alleged custodial death of David D’souza, DK district unit president of People’s Union for Civil Liberties.
Mr D’Souza collapsed and died following an alleged alteration at Mangaluru Rural Police Station on July 2 when he had accompanied his friend Stany Fernandes, who was called by police for an enquiry in connection with a complaint filed by the latter’s wife.
The demand of the delegation included an enquiry by a judicial magistrate into the alleged custodial death of Mr D’Souza, protection to Mr Fernandes, the eye witness, and registration of FIR against the police officials responsible for the death of Mr D’Souza. It also demanded that NHRC must be immediately informed about the custodial death of Mr D’souza.
A memorandum submitted to the city police chief by the delegation explains, “Mr D’Souza went to Mangalore Rural police station along with Mr Fernandes as the latter had been called to discuss a family issue at around 4.00 pm. Mr Fernande’s wife and son who had filed a complaint against him came to the police station at around 7.30 pm.
“In the presence of the police inspector Pramod there was an altercation of words between Mr D’Souza and wife and son of Mr Fernandes. There was a hot exchange of words, and Mr. Pramod called for policemen and told them to take Mr. D’Souza to the adjoining room. Mr Fernandes who was made to sit in the inspector’s room could hear arguments between D’Souza, Inspector Pramod and the constables for 10 mints. He heard the shouts of pain and anguish from Mr D’Souza.
“Thereafter to the utter shock, the four police carried Mr D’Souza outside the room and took him to a car. That point Mr. D’Souza appeared to be unconscious. Subsequently, Mr D’Souza’s wife was informed of his death at Indiana Hospital.
The sequence of events related above, given by Mr Fernandes clearly point to the fact that Mr D’Souza died in the police custody,” stated the memorandum.
The delegation said that even though a complaint was submitted to the jurisdictional police on July 3 and Mr Fernandes gave statement to the police, they were disturbed to read statement in the newspaper that suggest that the police were twisting the issue and dismissing the question of a probe in to the custodial death.
“It would thus have been hoped that as per circular D.No 40/1/1999-2000 CD (NRR) dated 03.01.2001 an enquiry by a judicial magistrate was initiated and the NHRC informed about this heinous incident. This is more so essential in the light of the fact that person who has so died is a well known human rights activist, who has time and again questioned several violations Committed by the police. It is absolutely necessary that this issue be dealt with seriously in order to ensure that justice is met and the officials responsible for this gruesome act are all brought to book,” stated the memorandum.
The delegation comprised of PUCL Karnataka state president, PB D’Sa, Karnataka Komu Sauharda Vedike leader Suresh Bhat Bakrabail, activist Kabeer Ullal and others.
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