JOIN USTumakuru Superintendent of Police Dr Divya Gopinath said here on Wednesday that an accused named Mohammed Afta who was brought in for questioning died in police custody.
Addressing the media, she said that the police received a call that villagers in the taluk had detained three people who were moving about suspiciously in Cholamballi, Tumakuru taluk.
When they reached there, they found a crowd of 15-20 people lynching the trio. Police rescued the trio--Mohammed Afta, Syed Khasim Saab and Shekhar and took them into custody.
Police said that Mohammed Afta was caught carrying an unlicensed pistol.
The police brought the trio to the station and registered a case against Afta for carrying an unlicensed firearm.
During interrogation, Mohammed Afta collapsed. He was taken to the district hospital for treatment and was declared dead by doctors who examined him.
A murder case has been registered and Madhugiri DySP has been entrusted with the investigations currently.
But this being a custodial death, as per the directive of the state Human Rights Commission, the case will be handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further investigations.
Police said a murder for gain case was booked against Mohammed Afta, the deceased in Tumakuru. Afta was also wanted in dacoities in Jnanabharati and Vidyaranyapuram police limits in Bengaluru. He is also wanted by Hennur and Bharatinagar police in connection with theft cases.