Mysuru: The city Police have warned the public not to take law into their own hands even if they spot a thief or somebody who is moving suspiciously. This warning comes in the wake of an incident where a suspected thief was thrashed by the public as he was found roaming in a suspicious manner at Cheluvamba Hospital premises a month ago. So badly was he beaten that the victim died and now a murder case has been registered against 6 persons and all of them have been arrested.

According to the Police, on the night of May 10, 26-year-old Mohammed Irfan was brutally assaulted by public with PVC pipes at Cheluvamba Hospital on suspicion of being a pickpocket. He died in the hospital the next day.

Initially, the Police did not have any clue about the assailants but after viewing CCTV cameras outside the Cheluvamba Hospital and the Child Care Unit, they rounded up six persons based on the camera visuals.

The Police, on June 6, arrested 33-year-old Mahadeva Naik of Hassan, 30-year-old Raghavendra of Nanjangud, 30-year-old M.C. Shashikumar of T. Narasipur, 24-year-old Prem Kumar of T. Narasipur, 26-year-old Madan Gopal from Hunsur and 24-year-old Ravi from Chamarajanagar.

Upon interrogation, the accused revealed that Irfan was moving suspiciously at Cheluvamba Hospital premises and was following one Jayalakshmi, a woman from K.R. Pet who  had admitted her daughter at the hospital. Jayalakshmi had complained to the accused youth that Irfan was following her and was looking to snatch her vanity bag.

The assailants told the Police that they thought Irfan was a thief and wanted to teach him a lesson. They then assaulted Irfan black and blue with PVC pipes and stones. They then tied him to the pillar at the gates of Indira Canteen and assaulted him.

While the assaulters left the place as it was dark, a badly injured Irfan was admitted to K.R. Hospital by other public. Irfan died the next morning and a murder case was registered at Devaraja Police Station. The Police have now managed to arrest all the accused. Though the assailants have claimed that there were more in their group who assaulted Irfan, CCTV visuals revealed that it was only 6 people who assaulted the victim based on which the arrests were made.

The investigation was led by Devaraja Inspector Shantharam, Sub-Inspector Mahadevanayaka, ASI Umesh Murthy and staff. City Police Commissioner Dr. A. Subramanyeswara Rao has announced a cash reward.

Hand over suspects to Police, public told

Police Commissioner A.S. Rao has warned public of action in case they take law into their hands. “People don’t have any right to assault or attack any suspect or person accused of crime. Manhandling any accused is crime and punishable. Public should hand such suspect over to Police for action and they must not take law into their hands,” he said. In this case, the accused have been produced before a court that has handed them to 14-day judicial custody.