The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Advocate tries to commit suicide

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Tuesday, Feb 12, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Advocate tries to commit suicide

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: A young advocate tried to commit suicide by consuming pesticide in the Court Hall No 1 on the High Court premises on Monday, alleging police harassment.

Advocate K.V. Vasanth Kumar (25), a native of Sakleshpur taluk in Hassan district consumed half a bottle of the pesticide around 11.30 a.m. even as Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice B.S. Patil were hearing a case on land acquisition. Eyewitnesses said Vasanth Kumar, who was carrying a petition addressed to the Chief Justice, pulled out the pesticide bottle from his bag and consumed it. Vasanth Kumar was seated in the last row of the court hall while the court was in session. As he writhed in pain, Police Constable Shivanna, who was on duty at Court Hall 1, rushed him out even as Vasanth Kumar shouted that he wanted to give a representation to the Chief Justice about the alleged harassment being meted out on him and his family by the police.

It is learnt that his petition stated that he and his family members were charged by the police of being involved in a murder case at Yesluru village, near Sakleshpur and that representations to the office of the Director-General and Inspector-General of police and the Government had not yielded any positive response. The police were harassing him, his mother and sister, and were trying to falsely implicate him in attempt to murder case even though he had obtained anticipatory bail.

The advocate was administered first aid and stomach wash at the dispensary on the high court premises before shifting him to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital. Later, in the evening, Vasanth Kumar was shifted to Victoria Hospital. The Vidhana Soudha police have registered a case.

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