SICHREM alleges illegal detention of seven nomads

Memorandum submitted to CM, police claim 4 of the 7 involved in theft

SICHREM - District Human Rights Center has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, alleging that the city police had illegally detained seven persons of a nomadic tribe, here on Monday.

Even though four of the seven persons have returned, three persons are said to be missing. In a memorandum to Siddaramaiah, convenor of SICHREM, Prasanna, alleged that seven perons were taken away by the police at 1.30 am on January 12. The seven persons are Haadappa, Raghu, Manja, Manju M, Ravi alias Kumar, Raja and Basavaraju.

“Even though police have rights to interrogate suspects, dragging away people, without informing their relatives about why they are being taken away is a violation of human rights,” he said.

On January 13, a representation of the nomadic tribals met the police commissioner and complained that despite police arresting seven persons, no police station had admitted of arresting seven persons. 

However, at around 9.15 pm on January 13, four of the seven, Manju M, Manja, Raghu and Ravi returned. The released later recounted that they were taken by the police. Even though the nomads did not know the police station where they were interrogated, they said that they were blindfolded throughout the journey from the police station to near Ashoka circle, where they were let off. 

“The nomads also complained that the police had threatened them against disclosing the incident before they were let off,” the memorandum read.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Prasanna said that the whereabouts of the three missing persons were still unknown. “Moreover, the police had committed atrocities to the four persons during interrogation. The police also detained the four persons for more than a day, without having any case for their arrest, which amounts to illegal detention,” he said.

In contrast to the version of SICHREM, DCP (Crime and Traffic), M M Mahadevaiah said that police had evidence about the involvement of four of the seven arrested, in theft cases within Mysore city limits. 

“Four persons have been arrested by V V Puram police, while three persons have been let off after questioning,” he said.