Bar-bender who fell from building during violence dies

Family says he jumped to escape caning; cops claim he slipped to death

Kumar, a 32-year-old bar-bender, who fell off the thrid floor of a building while trying to escape Monday’s police lathi charge, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday. This is the second death in the city related to the protests over the Cauvery water row.

According to Kumar’s family, he jumped from the building fearing that the police would charge at him. At 2.30 pm, as news about Kumar’s death at Sri Lakshmi Multispeciality Hospital near Sunkadakatte, Magadi Road broke out, protests erupted. Family members of Kumar and members of pro-Kannada organisations blamed the police for his death.

The incident took place when Kumar was on his way home (at Byadarahalli in Ramanagaram district) after work. As the mob began running when the police resorted to lathi charge, Kumar headed to the third floor, from where he fell to his death. Kumar’s wife Manjula was inconsolable. Kumar is a native of Magadi taluk . He is survived by a four-year-old daughter and wife, who is pregnant with their second child.

Family members refused to take his body for cremation till the government agreed to pay the same compensation as that given to Umesh, another victim of Monday’s violence. After the government promised Rs 10 lakh, the family took the body to Victoria Hospital for post mortem at 6.30 pm.

However, a senior police officer claimed that Kumar slipped to his death and the police were not responsible for it. Doctors at the hospital said he died of multiple fractures. “He was brought in a critical condition. There were fractures to the facial bones, shoulders and thigh bone,” said Dr M L Giridhar, MD of the hospital.

Chandramohan Singh, who had sustained bullet injuries in the thigh, was operated upon last night. His condition is stable, doctors said.

Rajesh J, another injured, was also operated upon at ESIC Hospital, Rajajinagar, and his condition is said to be stable. Rajesh’s sister said that he was not part of the mob and was only an onlooker. The family has sought compensation .

The body of Umesh who died due to bullet injuries on Monday was taken to his native Kunigal. His body was shifted from Victoria Hospital, following post mortem.