RTI activist dies after jumping off highway ramp in bid to escape from police jeep

DAVANAGERE: A man died after he jumped off a highway ramp in the early hours on Sunday while trying to escape from a police jeep near Tolahunase in Davanagere taluk. The deceased was identified as RTI activist Harish Halli (34).

Harish, a resident of Kabbala village in Channagiri taluk of Davanagere district, was facing charges of producing fake documents to usurp sites belonging to other people. The police were bringing him from his wife’s native village Kakanur in Channagiri taluk for questioning in the case.

Family members of Harish and hundreds of villagers gathered at Gandhinagar police station.

Around 2.30 am on Sunday, he escaped from the police jeep and jumped off the ramp when he was being taken for questioning. Harish was serious injuries and was admitted to a hospital, but died without responding to treatment.

The highway ramp near Tolahunase in Channagiri taluk from where Harish jumped off in his bid to escape from the police.

The deceased Harish’s family members expressed outrage against the police and staged a protest before the hospital. Harish’s wife has filed a complaint against Sub-Inspector Krishnappa and two police constables of Gandhinagar police station, claiming that they killed him in connection with the case.

Davanagere Superintendent of Police Dr K Arun visited the spot. Further investigation is under way.