BELAGAVI: An accused in a ganja peddling case, who had been picked up for questioning, died while he was in the custody of the Belagavi Rural police on Friday. The deceased Basavanagouda Patil (45) was a resident of Bellada Bagevadi in Hukkeri taluk. A case of custodial death has been registered and the case handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The police had detained Basavanagouda Patil in connection with an investigation into a ganja peddling case. During questioning, he suddenly he fell sick, and the police rushed him to BIMS hospital. However, he did not respond to treatment and died at the hospital.
Belagavi City Police Commissioner Dr Boralingaiah, who visited the hospital, told the media, “Basavanagouda Patil was taken in for questioning in connection with an old NDPS case. On the way, he started feeling nauseous and started sweating . Considering the situation, he was immediately taken to a private clinic where he was given preliminary treatment. The doctor suspected that it could be due to acidity. Patil was then brought to the station, but he again started feeling nauseous and sweating. He was again shifted to BIMS hospital, where doctors conducted an ECG. He suffered a severe heart attack and was shifted to the ICU, but did not respond to treatment.”
The police commissioner further said, “In such cases, there are many legal compliances which we will have to meet. Technically, this becomes a custodial death. An investigation will be conducted impartially and if there is any lapse, appropriate action will be taken. The custodial death will be investigated by the CID .”
But the family members of Basavanagouda Patil claimed that the Belagavi Rural police had beaten him to death and are demanding a fair probe on his custodial death.