Man dies in Brahmavar police custody; CID likely to take up probe

UDUPI: A custodial death was reported at Brahmavar police station in Udupi district. A 45-year-old man, Biju Mohan, was arrested for allegedly harassing a woman and her children.

Mohan, a native of Kollam in Kerala, was working as a labourer in Cochin Ship Yard in Brahmavar. Biju, who is highly addicted to alcohol, went to a house in Cherkadi village last evening and molested a woman and her children.

Locals called Brahmavar police station and informed them about this. The personnel immediately went to the spot, conducted an investigation, and took the person into custody on Saturday.

He was arrested on Friday night for allegedly harassing the woman and her children under the influence of alcohol. Police officials said Mohan was kept in the lockup and was found unconscious around 3:45 am on Saturday. He was immediately rushed to the nearby government hospital, where he was declared dead.

Superintendent of Police Dr Arun Kumar and Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agarwal visited the police station and the Primary Health Centre and gathered information. West Zone IGP Amit Singh collected information from the station staff and officers.

Commissioner Agarwal said that since it is a case of death in police custody, the investigation will be transferred to CID. The incident has raised concerns about police custodial deaths and the need for thorough investigations.

A case has been registered at Brahmavar police station, and further investigation is under way.