mangalore today

The arrested accuse police of brutality - Beltangady case

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Dec 31, 2015:  Three of the four people, who were picked up by the Belthangady police on Dec 27-28 Monday night following a scuffle between the cops and relatives of an accused, were released on Dec 29, Tuesday night with the condition that "they should not be admitted to any hospital nor complain against the police" over the atrocities meted out to them.


arrested_Roopesh Saldanha (28), Elias Saldanha (23) and Anupam Godwyn (32) were allegedly beaten up badly and one of them was said to be bleeding from the ears when they were admitted to a private hospital late on Dec 28 Tuesday night.

Even as they were writhing in pain, the three requested their relatives not to admit them to any hospital as police sub-inspector Sandesh P G had threatened to arrest them again if they tried to complain to police higher-ups or get admitted to any hospital.

Assault  :  According to sources, all three of them were made to lie on their stomach and the policemen rolled a stick on their back, while a few others jumped and danced on their back till they were tired. While the hands of Roopesh and Elias were swollen due to severe caning, all the three said they could not stand due to alleged beating on their feet. Their bodies bore  marks, they were not mobile. They alleged that the police were taking revenge on them as their sister had complained to senior police officials against the harassment of their family members by the police officer.

Despite their resistance to taking them to hospital, the family members forcibly admitted them to the intensive care unit of a private hospital, where they are undergoing treatment.   When contacted, Superintendent of Police S D Sharanappa said he would look into the matter.

Anupam Godwyn had come to Mangaluru for his cousin’s marriage two days ago, while Roopesh and Elias were brothers of Walter Kiran Saldanha, who has been accused of cheating Anil Furtado, also a resident of Belthangady.

It is said the police have forcibly taken statements from the trio that they had assaulted the police.  Walter Kiran has been remanded in judicial custody.