Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (PS/CN)

Mangalore, Jan 6: Members of the Popular Front of India (PFI) appeared before the media on Wednesday January 5, and said that they were victims of police atrocity.

Muhammad Shareef, Nawaz, Rasheed, Riyaz, Naushad, Saifullah, Noorullah, Muhammad Ansar, and Ashraf, all members of PFI, who were released on bail granted by the Bantwal Magistrate Court on Saturday January 1, have decided to lodge private complaints against the police officers, who, according to them, illegally arrested and tortured them for two days in Bantwal police station. The police had accused them of plotting the murders of Hindu leaders.

“A team of cops led by Bantwal Circle Inspector Nanjunde Gowda, on December 11, 2010, at around 10 pm, arrested these nine PFI activists as they were going to Mysore to participate in the PFI district conference. When asked the reason, police said they had committed the crime of throwing flesh near Kumapala Mosque”, said Nawaz.

They spoke of many types of torture techniques including shock treatment given to make them confess to crimes which they did not commit. The sub-inspector failed to produce them before the magistrate on December 12.