Homicide and different severe fees have been levelled towards 17 forest division workers in Mysuru district after a tribal man died allegedly attributable to torture of their custody, police mentioned on Thursday.
Police mentioned the forest division had nabbed three folks, who belong to a tribal neighborhood, from Hosahalli Haadi (colony) on Monday over fees of illegally looking and later promoting deer meat.
However in the course of the interrogation, the three folks in custody gave out the identify of Kariappa, who was allegedly the primary wrongdoer concerned within the looking of the protected species, resulting in his arrest.
“However whereas within the custody of forest officers, Kariappa complained of chest ache and was shifted to KR Hospital in Mysuru,” in response to folks conscious of the developments. Kariappa died on Tuesday and the tribals alleged that he was tortured by the division personnel.
Following grievance, a case of homicide and unlawful detention has been registered towards 17 forest personnel, together with vary forest officer (RFO) and deputy of Gundre forest zone, in Antarsante police station.
M Ravi Prasad, superintendent of police, who’s investigating the crime, mentioned a case has been registered following the grievance by the deceased’s son. “As it’s custodial demise, the federal government will hand over the case to the CID as per process. The physique has been despatched for post-mortem and CID officers will examine the case,” he mentioned.
The district police haven’t initiated any enquiry, he added.
A whole lot of individuals from the tribal neighborhood protested outdoors Gundre vary forest workplace and demanded the suspension of forest officers and to supply compensation of ₹10 lakh to the household of the deceased. The protest was withdrawn after an FIR was registered towards the forest officer and workers.
The FIR has named Gundre forest zone RFO MN Amritesh, his deputy and at 15 others in a case of homicide and unlawful detention.
“The forest division officers and workers got here to our home on Monday evening, dragged my sister and me outdoors our dwelling, hurled abuses and threatened us with penalties if we didn’t share our father’s whereabouts. They threatened to shoot me and my household, pour petrol and burn our home down,” Satish, Kariappa’s son, instructed HT.
On the identical day at 2.30 pm, Kariappa, who was contained in the forest, was dragged away by the forest workers. “At 6.30 pm on Tuesday, DRFO Karthik Yadav referred to as one in every of his family members, Ravi, and requested him to take Kariappa again. When Ravi went to forest workplace, Kariappa was significantly unwell as a result of torture given by the forest division,” Satish added.
Ravi refused to convey Kariappa dwelling and that’s when the forest division officers determined to take the alleged poacher to the hospital.
RFO Amritesh denied torturing the deceased.
“Kariappa was a coronary heart affected person and might need died of the identical sickness. Forest officers shifted him to hospital immediately and the post-mortem report would reveal every thing,” he mentioned.
“If the autopsy examination confirms that Kariappa died attributable to assault, authorized motion will likely be initiated towards the responsible,” Ratnambika, the Tehsildar of HD Kote, mentioned on Thursday.
“Kariappa died attributable to assault by forest officers. Atrocities by forest and police have turn into frequent now and plenty of such circumstances go unnoticed. I urge the state authorities for an intensive higher-level probe and responsible ought to be punished. I demand {that a} compensation of ₹50 lakh be paid to the household,” Mutthaiah, the final secretary of the state Adivasi sangha, instructed HT.