Youth Dies After Alleged Custodial Torture; Fact-Finding Team Flags Serious Rights Violations

Family Alleges Brutal Assault in Police Custody

A 24-year-old Bengaluru resident, Darshan—known locally as Singamalai—died under suspicious circumstances after being held in police custody earlier this month. A fact-finding team comprising Nelson P. Raj of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and V. Chandrasree of the Association of Prisoners’ Families for Justice (APFJ) visited the family on November 28, documenting allegations of severe custodial torture and intimidation.

Darshan, a resident of Sonenahalli near Viveknagar, was the primary earner for his family, which includes his wife Ashwini (22), a young daughter, and his parents. According to relatives and neighbours—most of whom spoke anonymously fearing police reprisals—the 24-year-old was picked up by Viveknagar Police during the second week of November.

‘Beaten Black and Blue’: Witness Accounts of Torture

Relatives allege that Darshan was illegally detained for three to seven days, during which he was repeatedly assaulted by police personnel, including Inspector Shivakumar and Sub-Inspector Pawan.

Witnesses claim he was beaten with lathis below the knee and subjected to daily torture. One friend who managed to see him inside the station recalled that Darshan was “crawling in pain” and unable to stand. “His knees looked broken,” the friend said. Witnesses say officers dragged him into a separate room and resumed beating him in front of them before forcing them to leave.

One police officer allegedly told them, “You slum dwellers deserve this; I will ensure you meet the same fate,” reflecting what locals describe as a pattern of casteist abuse and threats.

After this episode, friends and family were barred from accessing Darshan. Police reportedly told them he needed “treatment” and would be shifted to a rehabilitation centre.

Death at Rehab Centre and Restricted Access to Body

Darshan was later moved to Unity Foundation Rehabilitation Centre, Makali, where he reportedly died. His body was sent to Victoria Hospital mortuary on November 27. Family members say they were denied access to the body while senior police officials remained present at the hospital.

His remains were brought to his home in Viveknagar the following evening. Notably, personnel from multiple stations—Adugodi, Koramangala and Ashoknagar—were deployed, but no one from Viveknagar Police Station was present. Darshan was buried at the Shantinagar Hindu burial ground around 6 p.m. on November 28.

Locals Accuse Police of Routine Harassment

Residents of the Viveknagar slum allege that custodial harassment is a frequent occurrence. Several young men are reportedly picked up without formal charges, detained for two to three days, assaulted, and released only after families pay amounts ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹80,000.

Community members accuse specific Crime Branch personnel of routinely using slurs such as:
“We will ruin your lives, file false cases, and make sure you do not survive.”

Locals say the situation worsened during the tenure of a former inspector and has continued under new station heads. “If the media had not reported the death, even the body would not have been handed over,” one resident alleged.

Criminal Case Filed Against Police Personnel

Following public outcry, Madanayakanahalli Police Station registered an FIR against four Viveknagar Police personnel— including the inspector and a constable—under:

• Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 103(1) (Murder)

• SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, Section 3(2)(v)

• Additional relevant provisions

Background of the Deceased

Darshan had a previous criminal case—Crime No. 136/2022—under Sections 399 and 402 of the Indian Penal Code. A rowdy-sheeter history was also opened against him. He was granted bail by a Bengaluru sessions court on September 9, 2025.

His family and friends, however, maintain that irrespective of his background, the police had no authority to brutalize him.

Custodial Deaths: A Persistent National Crisis

Darshan’s death adds to India’s long list of custodial fatalities, which courts have repeatedly condemned. The Supreme Court has described such incidents as “a blot on the judicial system,” calling for urgent reforms.

Landmark judgments—including DK Basu vs State of West Bengal, Nirabati Behera vs State of Orissa, and the recent Deva Pardhi case (May 2025)—underscore systemic issues such as torture, illegal detention, and a lack of accountability.

Human rights groups argue that the victims are disproportionately from marginalized, low-income, and Dalit communities. “Transparency and police reform are no longer optional—they are a necessity to prevent further custodial tortures and deaths,” the fact-finding team stated.