The court of the Principal Chief Judicial Magistrate has extended till July 11 the judicial custody of the nine accused, including a suspended sub-inspector, in the case of cattle trader Hussainabba’s death.
The case is being investigated by the CID. The autopsy report, submitted to the District and Sessions Court on June 15 by the police, had named head injury as the cause of Hussainabba’s death.
Hussainabba, 62, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Shenarbettu near Perdoor, which comes under Hiriyadka police limits, in Udupi district on May 30.
His brother Mohammed Ismail registered a police complaint on the same day stating that the multi-utility vehicle (MUV) in which Hussainbba was transporting 13 head of cattle was waylaid by activists of Bajrang Dal at Shenarbettu. Hussainabba was allegedly assaulted by them and later died in the presence of the police, Mr. Ismail said in his complaint. The police booked a murder case based on his complaint.
During the course of the investigation, the police arrested 11 persons, including three policemen and eight activists allegedly belonging to a right-wing outfit, for murder. The three policemen included sub-inspector D.N. Kumar, police constable Mohan Kotwal, and police vehicle driver Gopal. However, Kotwal and another accused, Prasad Kondady, got bail on June 18.