Thief dies by suicide in Bengaluru police station restroom

BENGALURU: A 59-year-old habitual thief arrested on charges of committing theft at temples and in anganwadi in Channapatna taluk of Bengaluru South district (Ramanagara) was found dead in the washroom of the MK Doddi police station on Wednesday. The deceased has been identified as Ramesh, a native of Dundanahalli of Maddur in Mandya. Ramesh was found hanging from the knob of the washroom door. He had used his panche (dhoti) to take the extreme step. The body was shifted to Channapatna Government Hospitals mortuary for the postmortem. Asha and Usha, daughters of Ramesh, accused the police of their fathers death. Senior police officers have ruled out the lock-up death allegations. The victim, along with his son and another person, was arrested for reportedly stealing cash, silver ornaments from Beereshwara and Mahadeshwara temples at Bommanayakanahalli and a gas cylinder from an anganwadi. Bengaluru South District Superintendent of Police Srinivas R Gowda, speaking to TNIE, said that the case has been handed over to CID. A UDR case has been registered in the MK Doddi police station. Lock-up death allegation is subject to investigation by CID, and no action has been taken against the Police Sub-Inspector (PSI) who is the station house officer, Gowda added. Ramesh is said to be a habitual offender. He has also been convicted in a few cases. If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.