Fifteen people have been arrested for an attack on a police station here while a hunt is on for the others who are absconding.The North Zone Task Force arrested the men after identifying them with the help of footage from surveillance cameras installed around Maredpally police station.The cameras had captured the footage of the mob attack on the police station on August 3, following death of a man hours after his release from police custody.Alleging that Bandappa, 53, died due to police torture, his relatives and some locals attacked the police station, ransacked furniture and set afire several files and some computers. According to police, Rs.38,000 kept inside the police station were also looted.
The investigating team has identified at least 50 people including few women, involved in the attack. Police believe that two people with criminal background planned the attack.An officer said the hunt was on for the absconding accused.Police lost several files relating to FIRs and cases of under investigation and under trial cases. Majority of these files were not digitally stored.Four policemen including two sub-inspectors were also injured in the attack.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner Mahender Reddy has already ordered a probe into both Bandappa's death and the attack on the police station.Bandappa was arrested as he picked up an argument with a homeguard and created nuisance during Bonalu procession on Sunday. He was released from the police station on Monday. The family took him to a doctor as he was complaining of uneasiness. He died as he was being shifted to Gandhi Hospital.Relatives of Bandappa alleged that he died due to police torture. However, police suspect he might have died of overdose of alcohol or due to illicit liquor.