Hassan: A farmer reportedly committed suicide after he was allegedly beaten up by a police sub-inspector during questioning over cutting trees on a farm in Arsikere taluk on Sunday.

Shivananje Gowda, 50, of Bisalahalli, who consumed some liquid in the morning, died at the Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences later in the day.

Following a complaint about theft of timber from a farm, the Gandasi police called Shivananje Gowda for questioning on Saturday.

He was allegedly beaten up by the police. Humiliated, the farmer submitted a complaint at the Arsikere Rural circle inspector’s office at Arsikere that he was tortured by the Gandasi police, on Sunday morning.

By then he had already consumed the liquid.

The police took him to a hospital at Arsikere, from where he was referred to Hassan.

Shivananje Gowda’s family accused Gandasi sub-inspector Yasmeen Taj and Akash Hiriyappa, a resident of Arsikere, of being responsible for his suicide.

Shivananje Gowda had been looking after a farm owned by Putte Gowda of the same village for past many years.

Recently, the owner had decided to sell his property and had entered into a sale agreement with Akash Hiriyappa of Arsikere.

As the property had not yet been sold, Shivananje Gowda had cut three trees on the farm on Saturday.

The Gandasi police picked him up following a complaint by Akash Hiryappa. “My father was severely beaten up by Gandasi PSI Yasmeen Taj and others in the station. They accused him of stealing the trees from a farm belonging to Akash Hiriyappa, which is not true. The police also snatched Rs. 5,100 from him and released him after asking him to pay a fine of Rs. 1,200. My father was deeply hurt because he was labelled a thief,” said Shivananje Gowda’s son Santhosh.

Probe

Superintendent of Police R.K. Shahapurwad spoke to the family members and collected details.

“We will probe the matter,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Gandasi PSI Yasmeen Taj, has been suspended pending inquiry.