Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Jul 5: Panambur ACP has begun the investigation of the death case of David D’Souza, the Dakshina Kannada district president of People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), it is gathered.

David was on a visit to the rural police station when he collapsed inside the station on Thursday July 2 and died later in a private hospital in the city.

Cynthia Fernandes from Arkula had complained to rural police station, accusing Stanley Fernandes, her husband of not providing her money for day-to-day expenses. The police had called Stanley to the police station for making inquiries relating to this complaint.

At Stanley's request, David his neighbour accompanied him to the police station on Thursday. Cynthia, who was present at the police station, accused David of misleading her husband. Reacting to this David turned angry and was about to assault Cynthia. The police claimed that police inspector, Pramod, tried to calm down David by advising him not to interfere in the family matter.

At this juncture, the police said they asked David to go out of the station. David, who was a heart patient, collapsed after shouting at high tone at the police and others. Following this, the police rushed him to a private hospital where he breathed his last later at night.

The family of the deceased thereafter approached Kadri police station, saying that they had suspicion about the cause of David's death. On Friday, PUCL leaders submitted a memorandum to city police commissioner S Murugan alleging that their district president met custodial death. In view of the complaint, post mortem was done and video recorded in the presence of the tahasildar on Saturday.

Panambur ACP was told to head the investigation as there was a demand for investigation by a higher officer outside the jurisdiction of the police station involved.