Mangaluru: The Popular Front of India (PFI) staged a strong protest at the office of city police comissioner on April 4th, 2017, over the reported harrassment faced by a youth from the minority community at the hand of police.

A youth named Ahmed Qureshi was nabbed by police under the guise of questioning and was reportedly tortuted and has been kept in illegal custody. His father Ahmed Qureshi recently informed that his son has been admitted at the Wenlock Government Hospital where the doctors have said that both his kidney have failed due to excessive torture.

The protest, lead by PFI activists, turned ugly when, the police personnel resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd and took more than hundred people in custody

The police has claimed they resorted to Lathi charge when protestors pelted stones at the commissioner's office and the cops, injuring several of them. 

The protestors are demanding an immediate release of Qureshi and a high level investigation into the entire incident, especially his torture.

In a press note, the PFI has accused city crime branch (CCB) police of illegally arresting Qureshi and torturing him in an inhuman manner. They demanded the immediate suspension of CCB inspector Sunil Naik and subordinate Shyam Sundar and others. The PFI further sought admission of Qureshi, whose condition is said to be critical into a private hospital for advanced care, and urged for the suitable compensation be paid to the victim as he suffered physical disability. They have stated that they will intensify the protests  if the demands are not met within three days.

 "Qureshi is a painter by profession and a person involved in social service. He was arrested from the district courts complex on 21st March by the police for questioning. From 21st till 27th March, he was kept in the illegal confinement, after which he was tortured that resulted in the deformity of his body. He has now been admitted to Wenlock hospital, but the arrest information has not been given to the family members of Qureshi. Police also threatened the family members who sought information about him." 

Around 100 activists who protested at the venue were arrested and taken into Urwa police station. Some were reported injured while police caning.