The cab driver committed suicide after been tortured by police for three days
Cops patrol the street in Lakshmipuram where 24-year-old Pradeep Kumar committed suicide on Saturday following alleged police torture (Photo: DC)
Bengaluru: “The policemen removed Pradeep’s clothes, tied him to a table and rained blows on him with lathis and leather belts. They kicked him repeatedly. His screams could be heard on the main road,” alleged Bhargav Balaji, Pradeep’s employer. Pradeep, a cab driver, committed suicide at his residence in Lakshmipuram near Kempegowda Nagar after he was allegedly tortured by the police for 3 days. The police picked him up after his neighbours complained that he was creating nuisance in the area.
Following his death, riots broke out in the area, and the police had to resort to a lathicharge to disperse protesters on Saturday evening. Circle Inspector Nagaraj was suspended. Mr Bhargav said, “Pradeep was a simple and loving man. He was part of our family for the last 10 years. He was not a man who would commit suicide, but police goondaism pushed him to the extreme.”He alleged that Pradeep was subjected to the infamous ‘airplane treatment’, where a lathi is rolled on a man’s thighs with one cop standing on it. “They had not given Pradeep food or water. When one of his friends went to the station with a water bottle, Circle Inspector Nagraj snatched it, drank the water and threw the bottle in the bin, even as Pradeep kept pleading with the police to give him water,” he said.
“I went to meet Pradeep at his house around 9.30 am on Saturday. He was in pain and could not walk. His body, especially his feet, were swollen,” Mr Bhargav said. Pradeep’s sister Sushmita said, “He had bruises and clots all over. After he hanged himself, the police asked us not to touch the body till they arrived. My brother’s body kept hanging till midnight. He did not deserve to die like this. We need justice.”
Just minutes before he committed suicide, Pradeep sent a message to Sushmita: “Sorry Putta. Enjoy your life. Be happy and don’t call.” Ms Sushmita said Pradeep had taken responsibility of the house and and her and his twin brother Sandeep. He was cremated on Sunday after the postmortem at Victoria Hospital, amid tight security.
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