Custodial death reported in Karnataka's Udupi

At around 3.45 am, the sentry observed that Biju Mohan was sitting leaning on the wall of the cell. Police personnel, including the sub-inspector, were alerted and an ambulance was called to take him to to the Bramhavar Community Health Centre, where he was declared dead on arrival.

Udupi: An incident of custodial death was reported at Brahmavar police station in Karnataka's Udupi district in the early hours of Sunday, after a man from Kollam working as a labourer was brought to the station on charges of harassing a woman and her children.

The deceased has been identified as Biju Mohan (45). Udupi SP Dr Arun K said that the Brahmavar police received a call on November 9 at 7.45 pm accusing a man of harassing a woman and her children at Cherkadi village. The police rushed to the spot and took the man to custody and was later taken to the police station.

The woman, accompanied by her brother, filed a complaint stating that the man entered her house and harassed her and her children. Accordingly, he was put behind bars at the police station. At around 3.45 am, the sentry observed that Biju was sitting leaning on the wall of the cell. Police personnel, including the sub-inspector, were alerted and an ambulance was called to take him to to the Bramhavar Community Health Centre, where he was declared dead on arrival.

The SP said as this is a custodial death, the CID will investigate the case. The family of the deceased has been informed, and members are on the way to Udupi. Based on the complaint by the family members, further action will be taken.

"A post-mortem will be carried out by two medical teams which will be video recorded, and the inquest will be overseen by a judicial magistrate. All procedures will be followed as per rules and suitable action will be taken,” he added.

Sources said that Biju worked at a fish factory at Hangarakatte .