Mystery shrouds death of Bangalore constable

A 28-year-old police constable who was found critically injured near a railway track at Kumara Park East on Wednesday night, died in Mallige Hospital in the wee hours of Thursday.

The constable, attached with the High Grounds police station, has been identified as N Hanumantharaju, a resident of Madagondanahalli near Doddaballapur.

The railway police suspect that Hanumantharaju was listening to FM radio on his mobile when the incident took place. According to speculations, the constable was crossing the railway track while listening to FM radio when a speeding train  hit him. The police have registered an unnatural death case.

Railway police sub-inspector Subbanna said that Hanumantharaju was crossing the railway track around 8 pm. He had injured his head and left hand iduring the mishap. The police, however, said they were clueless about which train hit Hanumantharaju. He died in the hospital around 1.15 am on Thursday.

The deceased was on his way to report for night duty when the incident happened.

A beat constable, who spotted Hanumantharaju in an unconscious state near the railway track, had rushed him to Mallige Hospital. The police shifted the body to Victoria Hospital. The body was later handed over to the constable’s parents. The last rite was held at his village. His father Narayanappa, after being informed about the incident, reached the hospital within an hour.

However, relatives and natives of Hanumantharaju’s village suspect that the constable was murdered.

He took a bus from Doddaballapu and got down at Shivananda Circle to reach High Grounds station. They doubt if Hanumantharaju went to the railway track,  as it was located in the opposite direction to his police station. They demanded a thorough investigation into the case.

The deceased was given a guard of honour before his body was taken to his native village.