A 26-year-old Dalit man from Samse village in Kalasa taluk died by suicide on Wednesday after accusing Kudremukh police personnel of assault and caste abuse. The deceased, Nagesh from Bastigadde, was found hanging, leaving behind a note in which he blamed constable Siddesh for physical torture and casteist insults, and police sub-inspector (PSI) Adarsh for failing to take action on his complaint.
According to a complaint Nagesh had lodged on July 15, the incident occurred late at night when he was returning in his autorickshaw. He alleged that Siddesh and two locals were standing on the road with their vehicle blocking it. Using his phone torch to navigate, he approached them, which Siddesh reportedly took as an attempt to film them consuming alcohol. Nagesh said the constable then assaulted him and used casteist slurs.
Instead of acting on his complaint, police filed a counter-case against Nagesh for allegedly obstructing a public servant on duty. His autorickshaw and pesticide sprayer were seized, and though he later obtained bail, relatives said he was financially unable to recover his vehicle and feared continued police harassment.
Following his death, Nagesh’s family and relatives staged a protest demanding the dismissal of both Siddesh and Adarsh, and ₹50 lakh in compensation for the family.
