Cops accused of torturing fruit dealer, threatening to implicate in terror case

Mangaluru, May 21: A middle aged fruit dealer was illegally confined in a police station in the city and allegedly tortured by the police for four hours.

49-year-old Maqbool Ahmed from Padubidri has been admitted to a private hospital in the city with severe injuries. One of his fingernails was allegedly pulled off by cops at Urwa Police Station on Tuesday.

According to Maqbool’s brother in law Amjad, who lodged a complaint, the former had gone to collect money from a fruit seller near Circuit House in the city, towards supplies delivered on May 16. As the fruit seller was not in town he proceeded to attend a function in his Shivamogga.

Maqbool returned to Padubidri on Tuesday morning when he was told by his son that the police visited his shop and asked him to visit Urwa police station.

When he went to the Urwa police, the policemen stripped off his shirt and hit him with sticks around 2 p.m. Maqbool was accused of stealing Rs 50,000 from a vehicle parked near the fruit seller’s shop on May 16 near Circuit House.

The police forced Maqbool to admit that he had stolen money and told him that he was captured in the footage of CCTV camera installed near the spot of alleged theft. Then he was illegally confined till around 6 p.m. and let off, said Mr Amjad.

The police also threatened to implicate him in a terrorism related case if he revealed about the torture, he said.

Soon after his release, Maqbool was rushed to Government Wenlock Hospital and then he was shifted to a private hospital in Falnir. He suffered severe injuries on his legs and left ear.

“I am doing watermelon business in Padubidri for more than a decade. I supply watermelons to many fruit venders in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts,” Maqbool told Coastaldidest.com in the hospital.

“It is true that I had been to a fruits’ shop near Circuit Hose to collect money on May 16. But, how can they accuse me of committing theft? How can they target and torture me without any proof?” asked a helpless Maqbool.

Mr Amjad and other family members submitted a memorandum to Police Commissioner S Murugan demanding action on Wednesday.

Mr. Murugan said Assistant Commissioner of Police (Central) K. Tilakchandra has been asked to inquire into the allegations and submit a report in two days. Mr. Murugan said they would look into whether there was any complaint against Maqbool and whether he had been arrested and assaulted.

While contacted Poovabba, a Sub Inspector at Urwa Police Station, denied allegations of torture. But, he admitted that police ‘inquired’ Maqbool in the station about the theft.