Four Bengaluru Police Officers Face Murder Charges After Man Dies in Rehab Centre

It’s a story that truly makes you pause and question. Four police officers, individuals entrusted with upholding the law and protecting citizens, have been formally accused of murder in Bengaluru. The shocking allegations come after a 22-year-old man, John D Souza, was found lifeless at a rehabilitation centre, casting a grim shadow over the city's law enforcement.

The deceased, John D Souza, met his untimely end at the Swamy Vivekananda Centre in Kothanur. Now, Sub-inspectors Manjunath, Prashanth, Chetan, and constable Nagaraj from the Hennur police station are facing the full weight of the law, charged under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code – murder. It's a truly unsettling situation, one that shakes public trust to its core.

Here's where the narratives diverge, and the tragedy deepens. According to D Souza's heartbroken family, their son was subjected to nothing less than third-degree torture at the hands of these very officers. They allege that John was illegally detained on the night of November 28-29, brutalised, and then, without their knowledge or consent, admitted to the rehabilitation facility. Imagine the shock, the sheer disbelief, when they were informed on November 29 that John was at the centre, only to find him dead the very next morning, November 30.

The police, on the other hand, paint a drastically different picture. Their official version states that John D Souza was apprehended during a raid on a drug peddling den. They claim he was found unresponsive after the raid and subsequently taken to the rehabilitation centre for de-addiction, where he later passed away. However, the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) based on the family’s complaint, specifically citing murder, strongly suggests that the authorities are taking the family's accusations very, very seriously indeed.

A magisterial inquiry is now underway, a crucial step to uncover the truth behind John D Souza's tragic death. It’s a painstaking process, but absolutely necessary, given the grave nature of the allegations. The outcome of this inquiry will not only determine the fate of these four officers but also carry significant implications for police accountability and transparency across the state.

This isn't just another news story; it’s a profound human tragedy wrapped in a deeply troubling legal case. A young life, snuffed out too soon, and the men sworn to protect now stand accused of the ultimate crime. The community, I imagine, will be watching closely, awaiting answers and, above all, justice for John D Souza.