Accused of selling venison, man dies in custody, family says he was beaten to death

MYSURU: A man, who was in the custody of the Forest Department for allegedly selling deer meat, died under suspicious circumstances on Tuesday.  The family of the deceased have claimed that it was murder, and not an accidental death.

Kariyappa, the accused, hailed from Hasahalli haadi (hamlet). Forest Department officials had arrested three people for allegedly selling venison three days ago at Hosahalli haadi in H D Kote taluk.

Kariyappa, an accused, died during police interrogation in Mysuru

Prasad from Basapura and Muniyappa were first arrested and based on information provided by them, Kariyappa was arrested. He allegedly died while in custody. However, according to Forest Department sources, he died after a cardiac arrest, and it was not a case of custodial death.

The family of Kariyappa, however, claim that he was beaten to death by Forest officials on the pretext of interrogation. Other villagers too came out in support of the family.