Pramesh Jain
Foreign National dies in police custody,Protest turned violent outside JC Nagar police station,We cannot tolerate assault on our policemen: police commissioner Kamal Pant
A 27-year-old Congo national who was arrested in a drug case died in police custody allegedly due to cardiac arrest in JC Nagar on Monday.
Following the news of his death,Members of the African Association gathered in front of the JC Nagar police station and protested demanding a detailed inquiry into the incident and were seen shouting to register FIR.
The police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the protestors after the protests turned violent and attacked a policeman.Many protesters sustained minor injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
As soon as huge number of African National gathered in front of police station DCP North Dharmendra Kumar Meena with ACPs and neighbouring police inspector and staff were called with additional 3 KSRP platoons were rushed to the spot for precautionary measures.
As the protest turned violent as the protestors tried assaulting ACP,JC Nagar Sub-Division,Reena Suvarna and PSI Latha, as the silent protest turned into violent Addl CP West Soumendhu Mukherjee rushed to spot to take stock of the situation.
Senior officer told reporters,the deceased Joah@ Joel Shindani Malu,27 years, National of Democratic Republic of Congo,having a complaint of sudden chest pain was shifted to nearby Chiraayu Hospital.
After administering treatment for almost one hour,he was declared dead due to suspected Cardiac Arrest.
Earlier on Sunday night,based on credible information a team of police led by PSI Raghupati laid a trap to nab a drug peddler Joan near 10th Cross,Banjara Layout.The Police team kept a close watch and waited till the wee hours of Monday.
Due to the sudden presence of police Joan changed the location of trade to BabusaPalya locality in Hennur PS limits.
At around 12:30 AM,two foreign nationals passing by on a scooter were identified by police informants as pillion rider John,following which the policeman in mufti apprehended him.
In that scuffle as John was trying to flee,a few small plastic packets containing white color substance fell on ground which were suspected to be narcotics which later turned out to be 5 grams of MDMA.Meanwhile another foreign national who was riding the bike escaped during the scuffle.
After following the due procedure,PSI Raghupathi and police team brought drug peddler Joan to the police station along with seized suspected Narcotics substance and bike for questioning.
An FIR (in crime no 123/2021 u/s 21 NDPS JC Nagar PS in seizure of narcotics substance MDMA is) has been registered.Later,drug peddler John was kept in police station for want of ascertaining his identity,further inquiry and legal action.
At around 5:10 am on Monday,incharge Station House Officer informed the PSI Raghupati that detainee John suddenly started complaining of chest pain.
PSI Raghupati immediately acted on this information and shifted him to nearby Chiraayu Hospital for treatment at approx 5:30 AM.
On preliminary medical examination he was diagnosed with Bradycardia and administered several rounds of CPR and other life saving interventions.At around 6:45AM,he was declared dead due to suspected Cardiac Arrest.
In absence of verified identity of deceased John, Bosco,president of Pan African Federation was informed about the incident.
On further enquiry, it is found that deceased John is national of Democratic Republic of Congo having name Joel Shindhani Malu as per his Passport details.Available information suggests that his student visa expired in July 2015 and Passport expired on 13/12/2017.
A case of unnatural death has been registered and Investigation is being conducted as per guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), DHarmendra Kumar Meena, DCP, north division, said .
The Afrcian association said that John was pursuing BBA and was celebrating a birthday party at his friend’s house in Hennur when the police raided the place and picked him up .
Incidentally, this May a 38-year-old Nigerian national Peter Ofor was found dead in a canal of Kalkere lake in Ramamurthynagar police limits. The association had protested his death seeking detailed inquiry.
A few members of the association alleged that Ofor, who had come to India on a business visa and lived with his family in Banjara Layout, was last seen being chased by a group of men presumed to be police in mufti.
Speaking to the media,Soumendu Mukherjee, Additional Commissioner of Police,West,said that for over an hour,doctors at the private hospital tried to save Joel, administering CPR but could not save him.
After four to five hours we got his documents.As per NHRC and SC guidelines,we are proceeding,” said Soumendu Mukherjee.
Meanwhile, some of his friends came and protested here.Despite the police showing restraint, the protestors started attacking the police. We had to resort to a mild lathi charge. Our sub Inspector and constables also got injured and are receiving treatment,he added.
Kamal Pant, speaking to reporters said We have considered this as a custodial death and informed the agencies concerned while ordering for a detailed probe.
Investigation into the death is being conducted as per NHRC guidelines including inquest by a judicial magistrate.The investigation has been transferred to CID by the DG-IGP Praveen Sood,Kamal Pant,City Police Commissioner, said.
