Man alleges brutal police torture

A painter has petitioned the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, T Suneel Kumar, alleging “brutal assault” from the DJ Halli police during the investigation of a “false” case. The DJ Halli police have denied the accusation.

Vinod, of Arogya Das Nagar, DJ Halli, claimed the police beat him black and blue and later admitted him to the Bowring Hospital for treatment.

He said his relative, Nandakumar, came to his house around 10 pm on June 29 when he was sleeping. Nandakumar said he’d got some work. But when Vinod came out, he found two constables who asked him to get into an autorickshaw. The auto pulled into Tannery Road and the constables took him to a jewellery store. The police took a gold chain, a ring and Rs 20,000 in cash from the jeweller. Vinod was then taken to the DJ Halli police station where he was “brutally beaten” and asked to confess. He was also offered money if he cooperated in the investigation. The police told him that since it was the month-end, they had to close the case or else the DCP would take action against them. Vinod said he refused to confess.

The police got angry and assaulted him even more viciously, saying he would not go home alive if he refused to follow their orders. Luckily, Vinod’s father, Jayamani, came to the police station and paid a bribe for his release, the complaint stated.

Jayamani said that soon after he learnt that his son was picked up by the police, he went to the station and tried in vain to meet the inspector. A sub-inspector asked to him pay Rs 20,000 to get Vinod released. Jayamani said he borrowed Rs 10,000 from a friend and paid the police, who asked him to pay the rest or else they would pick up Vinod again. The father and son later approached the police commissioner.

The DJ Halli police denied having assaulted Vinod.

They said both Vinod and Nandakumar were thieves and were involved in a house burglary last week. An FIR has been registered again them. A gold chain, a ring and a mobile phone have been seized from them. The police said they were also ready to face an inquiry.