annual report print final.qxd - Asian Centre for Human Rights

INDIA HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2005 Karnataka
who were arrested along with him, stated
that he was not playing the cards but only
watching. They alleged that he was
tortured to death. 7
On 2 June 2004, one Rangappa of
Gowribidanur in Kolar district was found
dead under mysterious circumstances in
Aijoor police station in Ramanagaram
taluk in Bangalore Rural district after he
was picked up for interrogation in
connection with a theft case. The victim
was working as a watchman at the
construction site of Divine School of
Nursing near Archakarahalli, from where
he had allegedly stolen iron bars. Police
reportedly detained him in the police
station without registering a complaint
against him. Police claimed that Rangappa
had committed suicide by hanging from a
ventilator rod with the help of a towel in
the toilet. 8
On 1 December 2004 night,
Shyamanna, a close relative of Jalihalla
Camp’s Congress leader and MP K
Virupaksha, died following alleged police
assault in Sindhnur town. On the morning
of 2 December 2004, the deceased’s body
was taken to the government hospital for a
re-test since earlier post mortem tests were
not conducted in the presence of the police. 9
ii. Arbitrary arrest, detention and
torture
Police highhandedness and torture
continued to be reported from Karnataka.
Even children were not spared.
On 1 January 2004, about ten
policemen attached to Hoyasala patron
squad allegedly beat up Dr Vijayabhaskar,
an ex-major in the army and resident of
Kanakapura road, and his father in
Kumaraswamy Layout police station
limits. They were beaten up for protesting
against the nuisance being created by
inebriated policemen around 1.30 a.m. 10
On 25 May 2004, Vinod Raj and John
Peter were allegedly beaten by the
personnel of the MEG Centre and Training
area, Bangalore. They were assaulted after
tying their hands with ropes. 11
On 28 May 2004, 16-year-old
Bonison Gustin Fernandes was allegedly
beaten by police of Chendia in Karwar in
North Kannada District. He was suspected
of stealing some articles from the hotel
where he served as a room boy. The
beating by the police left Fernandes semiconscious.
The hotel authorities and the
police then allegedly tried to
systematically cover up the entire incident
as they dropped him back home after
giving him cursory treatment at a private
hospital. As his condition grew critical, he
had to be reportedly rushed to civil
hospital on the morning of 3 June 2004. 12
In June 2004, Nagesh, an office boy of
Journalists Association, was allegedly
beaten up by police in the K R police
station, Mysore after he was reportedly
picked up from the Association’s office
following a complaint by one Jayes Kumar
accusing Nagesh of stealing his mobile. 13
On 18 June 2004, Kokila, a
transsexual, was allegedly accosted by 10
unidentified persons on Old Madras Road.
They allegedly took her to a ground and
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