RTI activist dies in police custody in Karnataka's Davangere

The deceased has been identified as Harish H R (40), a native of Kabbala village

An RTI activist, accused of forging documents to register three plots in Davangere in his name, died under mysterious circumstances while being taken to a police station for interrogation.

"In a bid to escape, Harish Halli (40) jumped out of the police car when the vehicle was passing on an overbridge near Tolahunuse and fell onto the service road. Harish died en route to hospital. The incident occurred when he was being taken to the police station, from his in-laws house at Kaakanur, for questioning in a complaint charging him of forgery, Superintendent of Police Dr K Arun told DH.

A woman had lodged a complaint at Gandhi Nagar police station against Harish, a native of Kabbala village in Channagiri, alleging that he had registered three plots in Davangere in his name by using the forged documents.

Meanwhile, Harish Halli's wife K R Latha has blamed police excesses for her husband's death. In her complaint to Davangere Rural police, Latha alleged, "Gandhinagar SI Krishnappa, constable Devaraj and car driver Irshad forcibly took my husband to the police station late Saturday night. They harassed him at the police station. They informed me about my husband's death in the early hours of Sunday. Police have murdered my husband at the behest of K Baburao of Kanivebilachi," she alleged.