BANGALORE: In the fourth case of custodial death this year, a 32-year-old man accused in a theft case died in the custody of the Jnana Bharathi police on Thursday.

The police gave his name as Abdul Hameed, a resident of Shamapur Road, off Tannery Road. Around 9 p.m. on Wednesday Hameed allegedly stole a bag containing slippers from a footwear shop owned by Byra Reddy on Nagarabavi Ring Road.

A shopkeeper who saw Hammed allegedly making away with the bag, alerted Byra Reddy.

As Hammed got into an autorickshaw, Byra Reddy and others chased him on motorcycles.

After travelling some distance Hameed jumped out of the autorickshaw and started running. As he tried to jump a compound wall, he fell and suffered injuries on the head and legs, the police said.

Passers-by caught Hameed and reportedly assaulted him. Two constables attached to the Chandra Layout police station who were on duty in the area took Hameed to the Chandra Layout police station.

Later, he was shifted to the Jnana Bharathi police station as the alleged theft had taken place in Jnana Bharathi police station limits.

As Hammed had suffered injuries, the police took him to Victoria Hospital and brought him back to the Jnana Bharthi station around 1.15 a.m. on Thursday after getting him medical aid.

Sudden collapse

The police said that around 4.15 a.m. Hammed suddenly collapsed, because of a suspected epilepsy attack. He was again taken to Victoria Hospital.

After the doctors there said that he could have suffered a serious head injury, he was rushed to NIMHANS.

As the doctors at NIMHANS were preparing to operate upon Hameed, he died around 8.30 a.m., the police said.

The Commissioner of Police, Ajai Kumar Singh, told presspersons that a case of custodial death has been registered under the Section 176 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

The matter has been brought to the notice of the National Human Rights Commission and the Corps of Detectives (CoD) has been requested to conduct an inquiry. The Sub-divisional magistrate has conducted an inquest. The cause of death is yet to be ascertained, he said.

To a query, the Police Commissioner said policemen had not beaten Hameed while he was in custody and thus there was no question of initiating any action against the policemen. Hameed's brother, Abubekar, has told the police that Hameed was a drug addict and epileptic. He was earlier treated at NIMHANS.

Meanwhile, there was tension on Tannery Road on Thursday evening as a large number of people gathered near Hameed's house when the body was brought there after autopsy. The police had tightened the security in the area.

Earlier incidents

In the three earlier incidents, a robbery accused committed suicide by hanging himself from a ventilator grill in the toilet of the Ashoknagar police station.

A murder accused died under mysterious circumstances while in the custody of the Jayanagar police.

The police claimed that he had died of low blood pressure. The Jayanagar Inspector, Shankaraiah, was suspended following the custodial death.

In the third incident, a man, who was caught by the public and was handed over to the police, died while in the custody of the Kengeri police.

The public had assaulted him after he barged into a house in Kengeri police station limits and allegedly tried to molest a woman.

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