Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 13: Mohammed Ashraf, uncle of Altaf, an accused in the cases relating to the murder of Chetan Shetty and the recent conspiracy to kill city-based lawyers, alleged that the district criminal intelligence bureau personnel have kept the youth in confinement and that he is being tortured. Ashraf claimed that the policemen know that Altaf is innocent.

Speaking as a press meet held in the city on Wednesday May 12, he said that the policemen added Altaf’s name in the list of the accused, just because his mobile number was recorded in the mobile phone of one of the accused in Chetan Shetty murder case.

“When we brought this to the notice of the then superintendent of police, Subrahmanyeshwar Rao, the policemen stopped harassing Altaf. The court also granted anticipatory bail,” he claimed. “However, Altaf, who had gone out from home at around 8.15 pm on May 3, was picked up by the Pandeshwar police. As he did not return till 1.30 am, we complained to the Pandeshwar police station. Ramakrishna, sub-inspector there, said that Altaf was in the custody of the policemen and that he would be released. He also advised us against filing any complaint,” he explained. However, Altaf was handcuffed and brought to his home the next day, to take his computer and motor bike, Ashraf added.

Ashraf said that Altaf’s name was included in the list of accused in a plot to murder advocates from the city, on May 5. He accused the policemen of the DCIB of fixing Altaf in murder case just because their demand for money in Chetan Shetty murder case was not met by him.  He asserted that the policemen have falsely implicated his nephew in the conspiracy to kill lawyers from the city.

He demanded for a thorough reinvestigation of the case through high level police officers, and sought withdrawal of case against Altaf. He said he intends to approach the state home minister in this regard.

Mother of Altaf, Bifatima, Ramla Begum, and Abdul Aziz were present.