Protestors attributed the death to custodial torture by the K.G. Nagar police
Tension prevailed at Lakshmipura, near Gavipuram, after residents and the police clashed on Saturday night. The angry mob set fire to a police vehicle (Cheetah) leading to a lathi-charge by the police.
The residents were protesting against K.G. Nagar police for the alleged custodial torture of a cab driver, Pradeep (27), a resident of Lakshmipura.
Police Commissioner M.N. Reddi told The Hindu that he had ordered the suspension of K.G. Nagar inspector C.D. Nagaraj, besides initiating a probe into allegations of corruption against the inspector, the custodial torture, and excessive police action on the protesters.
It is said that Pradeep was picked up by the police on Wednesday on the basis of a complaint by his tenant Muthuswamy. The “police torture” allegedly pushed Pradeep over the edge, and he committed suicide on Saturday, his relatives claimed.
After Pradeep’s relatives refused to let in the police to take the body, friends and local residents protested against the alleged custodial torture. This led to a clash between them and the police, who resorted to lathi-charge. The constabulary was also seen out on the streets with their rifles drawn out. The constables charged at the protesters and even hit some of them with the butt of their rifles.
It was only after local MLA Ravi Subramanya and Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Alok Kumar rushed to the spot that the situation was brought under to control, after more than two hours.
(The Hindu)
