Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (UM)
Udupi, Jun 4: Superintendent of police (SP) Laxman Nimbargi on Monday June 4 said that the cops arrested in connection to the death of Hussainabba at Perdoor have been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days and sent to Karwar jail.
Hussainabba and two others were allegedly transporting cattle illegally in the wee hours of May 30 when Bajrang Dal activists along with Hiriadka police waylaid their vehicle near Perdoor. Hussainabba was assaulted by the activists and handed over to the police. On reaching the police station, Hussainabba was found to have died in the police van. The police then dumped the body a kilometre from the crime spot and registered a case of unnatural death stating that he had suffered a cardiac arrest.
Briefing the media on the developments in the case here, Nimbargi said that the post-mortem and the forensic reports in the case were still awaited, and hence the exact cause of Hussainabba's death was yet to be confirmed.
"The police and the Bajrang Dal activists together waylaid Hussainabba's vehicle. He was assaulted and handed over to the police," the SP said, going on to describe the details that were given earlier on Sunday June 3.
"Ten persons have been arrested in the case so far. After Suri and Prasad were arrested in Ballari, we learnt during interrogation that personnel of Hiriadka police station were also involved. We suspended three of them and arrested them too. There are others involved and they will be arrested soon," he added.
On claims that Hussainabba's vehicle did not have number plate, he said it did, but it was broken by the Bajrang Dal activists who attacked the vehicle.
The SP also said that Hussainabba and the two others who were with him were transporting the cattle without permission, though they may not have been stolen cattle. Two cows were found in the vehicle, out of which two died. Search is on for the two persons who were with Hussainabba and managed to escape, he said.
"Karkala ASP Rishikesh along with Manipal inspector Thimmippa Naik will be heading the investigation," he added.
"Altogether, three cases have been filed in the matter. The first about illegal transport of cattle, second about Hussainabba's body found by a local named Shekar at Perdoor, and the third by Hussainabba's brother Mohammed Ismail alleging murder by Bajrang Dal activists.
Additional SP Kumarachandra was present in the press meet.
Meanwhile Chetan Acharya (22), Shailesh Shetty (20) and Ganesh (24) who were arrested on June 3 were produced in the court and sent to judicial custody till June 15.