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

[email protected] (CD Network)
May 21, 2015

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.

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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.

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News Network
March 14,2024

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Mangaluru, Mar 14: “Hindutva is my commitment and development is my priority,” said Indian army veteran and entrepreneur Captain Brijesh Chowta after the BJP high command announced a ticket to him from Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency.

Known as a BJP stronghold, Nalin Kumar Kateel has served as the MP of this constituency for the past 15 years.

Soon after the announcement was made, 42-year-old Chowta, who is also the BJP state secretary from Dakshina Kannada constituency, sought the blessings of his parents and went to Shree Sharavu Mahaganapathi Temple and visited the war memorial to offer tributes.

A BSc graduate from St Aloysius College, he completed his executive business Management program from the Indian Institute of Management, Indore.

He was commissioned into the 7th battalion of the 8 Gorkha Rifles and served in counter-insurgency operations in Assam and Manipur and was part of Elite Ghatak team. He also served as the adjutant to the battalion. He has been associated with the BJP since 2013. He is the president of Mangaluru Kambala and organiser of Mangaluru Lit Fest.

“Humbled and grateful to our party seniors led by our commander-in-chief PM Narendra Modi for giving me this opportunity to be our party’s candidate and representative of his work and vision in Dakshina Kannada. I pledge to continue to work with even greater rigour for the welfare of our region and people driven by the mantra of ‘Nation First’. I humbly bow down to all our karyakartas & everyone who stood by me & toiled with me to make this happen. Our task has just begun, as we work towards making Dakshina Kannada the number one in the state,” Captain Chowta said on X.

Kateel welcomes change 

Meanwhile, sitting Dakshina Kannada MP Nalin Kumar Kateel has welcomed the party’s decision to field Capt Brijesh Chowta as the BJP candidate for Dakshina Kannada Lok Sabha constituency.

He said the change aligns with the party’s strategy of fostering new talent to broaden its base and activities. He hoped that he will win by a margin of more than 3 lakh votes.

Soon after the list was announced on Wednesday, the three-time MP told reporters that he has brought projects worth about Rs 1 lakh crore during the last 10 years, under the Modi government.

He thanked the party for giving him a big responsibility of leading the party in the state. “I have worked honestly,” he said.

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News Network
March 19,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 19: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said that the Congress will split in three months after the upcoming Lok Sabha polls and its impact will be visible on the Siddaramaiah-led state government.

"Due to internal squabbles, the state government will not last long," the BJP leader said.

Talking to reporters on Monday, he said the sitting MP from the Gadag-Haveri constituency, Shivakumar Udasi, has done a lot of development work and implemented the Central government's schemes effectively.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi will surely become the PM for the third time. The overall response has been good in the Gadag-Haveri Lok Sabha constituency," the former Karnataka chief minister said.

Asked if he was contesting the election in a half-hearted manner in the Gadag-Haveri seat, Bommai said "such a question does not arise when the party's high command gives instructions".

He said he would respect his opponent and not take anyone lightly. 

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News Network
March 15,2024

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Bengaluru, Mar 15: Former Karnataka chief minister and senior BJP leader B S Yediyurappa was booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act on Thursday for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor at his residence in Bengaluru last month.

Yediyurappa, 81, was booked after a woman lodged a complaint saying that she visited his residence on February 2 seeking justice in a rape case against her daughter and sought that a special investigation team (SIT) be formed to look into the case.

According to the first information report (FIR), Yediyurappa allegedly took the minor to a room, closed the door and sexually assaulted her. The woman further alleged in the FIR that when she confronted Yediyurappa, he said that he was checking if the girl was raped or not. Yediyurappa later allegedly apologised and asked the woman not to reveal the matter to anyone.

The Sadashivanagar police in Bengaluru have registered a case under Section 8 (commit sexual assault) of the Pocso Act and Section 354 (a) (sexual harassment) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Reacting to the allegations, the former CM said that around one-and-a-half months ago, they (the victim and her mother) had come to his house seeking help and he had taken them inside. 

“After listening to her, I called the city police commissioner B Dayananda over phone seeking to address her problem. Later, they spoke against me and I then suspected that there is some health problem with her. I sent them to city police commissioner’s office. I even gave her some money as they were in distress. I came to know that an FIR has been registered and will look into it. But this is what I get for helping someone,” he added.

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