Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Sep 2: Relating to the death of two persons by drowning at Kootelu Bridge near Uppinangady on September 10, 2009, Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner, Dr N S Chennappa Gowda, has issued orders for a magisterial inquiry. The order was passed under the directions of Karnataka State Human Rights Commission.

The DC has appointed Puttur sub-divisional magistrate, M Sundar Bhat, as the inquiring officer. The inquiry officer is expected to conduct an in-depth inquiry into the circumstances leading to the death of Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Mustafa, and file a report on the allegation that they had died due to police atrocities. He has been asked to file his report on the incident within four weeks. 

Mohammed Asif and Mohammed Mustafa from Shantigudde, Bajpe, were involved with cattle trade. During the police operation near the above spot two years ago, both of them had drowned in the river water. The body of one of the accused was found from a spot within Uppinangady police station limits, and other near Bantwal. Alleging that both of them had died because police torture, their family members had complained to the National Human Rights Commission.

It may be recalled that the Uppinangady policemen had claimed that they had stopped a vehicle carrying she-buffaloes loaded onto a vehicle in an inhuman manner, and arrested some of the traffickers. The above two, they said, had jumped into the river in a bid to escape arrest.