Lock-up death leads to protest

HAVERI: Tension prevailed in Byadgi town, as the relatives of the deceased Shafiulla Hunasimarad staged a protest by keeping his dead body in the middle of the road in Subhas Circle here on Wednesday. The deceased Shafiulla Hunasimarad (33), a resident of Makangalli in Byadgi, was hurriedly returning to  his wife’s house with his two children. Residents of Harihar suspected him to be a kidnapper as he was walking in a hurried manner and after trashing him, they handed him over to the police. Hunasimarad died on the way to the government hospital in Harihar. His body was handed over to family members and bought to Byadgi on Tuesday night. Irate about the incident, over 100 Muslims staged a dharana by keeping the body on the road for two hours. All business establishments have been closed too. Anjuman Islam President A Y Ballary and Tippu Sulan Balaga president Dr A M Soudagar have jointly condemned the death and have demanded that the state government take action against the guilty police officials.