Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 21: Six police personnel including a police inspector stand suspended in connection with the death of a person in police custody here.

A native of Odisha named Mahendra (42) had been brought to the police station by the personnel of Jeevanbima Nagar police station in the city on Saturday for questioning. Reportedly he was detained in connection with a theft that was committed in the house of a businessman in he city. The policemen have been claiming that during the interrogation, the man encountered breathing difficulties. He reportedly died when being taken to a private hospital. But doubts are being expressed about the police version of the incident.

After the police reported that Mahendra died or breathing problems, city police commissioner, N S Megharikh, visited the station. During collection of details by higher officials, loopholes in police version were found and therefore, six policemen including station house officer were suspended. The suspended officials are police inspector, Hitendra, sub-inspector, Rajashekhar, head constable, Ejaz Ahmed, and constables, Siddappa, Mohan Ram, and Keshavamurty.

The state government has handed over investigation of this case to criminal investigation department, said additional police commissioner, P Harisheharan. Postmortem of the body is being conducted today.