Inmate in city’s de-addiction centre beaten to death

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In a shocking incident, a 43-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death by the inmates of a de-addiction centre here on Thursday. A resident of Shampura, Arif Nawaz Khan, was a chronic alcoholic and was admitted to Deenabandhu Rehabilitation Centre at Yelahanka New Town for treatment a week ago.

According to sources, two days ago Arif ’s brother had visited the centre to give him clothes. He, however, could see his brother through the CCTV, as the management refused permission to meet him in person. The incident came to light when the family members got a call from the rehab centre on Thursday morning informing them about the need to hospitalise Arif.

By the time the family could reach the centre, Arif had lost sense. They rushed him to a hospital in Yelahanka where the doctors declared him dead. The doctor also found multiple bruises on the body and suspected that he had been assaulted using rods and clubs, according to the police.

The family lodged a complaint with the police seeking action against the management, following which the police detained three staff members for questioning and charged them with murder. Inquiries revealed that Arif had a heated argument over a demand for hot water and allegedly attacked one of the staff members. The others reportedly beat him up until he passed out.

The family said that Arif was married and had a child, and got addicted to alcohol, off late. He was also behaving abnormally. The family, based on the advice of relatives and friends, admitted him a week ago to the rehabilitation centre and paid the fee hoping that he would recover from addiction.