Mangaluru: Techie who chased a molester subjected to brutality by police!

Mangaluru, May 6: A 25-year-old software professional, who had tried to chase a miscreant who molested a medical student in the city last week, has allegedly been subjected to police brutality.

Harshil Shetty, who works in Bengaluru, revealed media persons here on Wednesday that the cops foisted a case of assaulting a constable against him when he wanted the police to arrest a miscreant who molested his female friend.

Narrating the incident which took place on May 2 in the city, Harshil, said that he had gone with friends to a bar lounge.

Around 10.30 p.m., they left the place. Harshil’s 25-year-old friend was walking to her vehicle, when they heard her scream and someone running away.

Harshil said that he and his friends chased the perpetrator, who entered a hotel opposite St Aloysius College. “I saw the accused entering a fast food restaurant and changing the clothes in an attempt to mislead the people. I confronted the molester and the employer had an argument with me by supporting the accused. I did not give up and swore to get the molester arrested for the crime he had committed,” he said.

“I was angry with the hotel owner who refused to hand over the boy. I did raise my voice against police constable Paramesh, who tried to shoo me away and did not try to catch the perpetrator,” he said.

Harshil accused Paramesh of beating him on the spot and added that he was allegedly beaten by more policemen at the Mangaluru North police station. “It was only when my friends, including the girl, came to the police station that the police realised they were at fault,” he said.

Following a complaint by the girl, some of his friends were taken to identify the perpetrator. “We were then threatened with a separate case if we failed to identify the perpetrator,” said Harshil’s friend.

Harshil said that he was being victimized for trying to chase the perpetrator. “I had to be in the prison for a day for no fault of mine,” he said. He was released on bail on Monday, he added.

Prakash Shetty, father of Harshil said that they have met the police commissioner and given an ultimatum of two days to initiate action against police personnel who had allegedly assaulted his son for no reason.

“If the Commissioner fails to initiate action, then we will stage indefinite stir outside the Commissioner’s office,” said Congress leader Deviprasad Shetty.

“We will also file a case on violation of human rights with the State Human Rights Commission,” he added.

The police, who have arrested the alleged molester, have denied foisting the case and have said that they had clear evidence of his misbehaviour and ruckus at a hotel.

Ordering an inquiry into the allegations, Police Commissioner S. Murugan said that the police had arrested Tapan Das (23), who had allegedly molested the girl.

Mr. Murugan said that Harshil was allegedly inebriated and created a ruckus before the hotel. “There are eyewitnesses to the ruckus created,” he said. He added that it was difficult for the constable to believe Harshil’s allegations due to the absence of the victim.

The Commissioner said that Assistant Commissioner of Police (Central) will be enquiring into the allegations, including the alleged assault by policemen, the alleged foisting of a false case and the alleged defamation of of Mr. Shetty and the molested girl in the police station.