Mangaluru: David D’Souza, district secretary of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, died following an altercation at the Mangaluru Rural police station on Thursday night. The altercation related to a family matter of his friend Stany Fernandes, whom he had accompanied to the Police station upon a call from the police. Stany Fernandes had been summoned by the police in connection with a complaint by Mr. Fernandes’s wife Cynthia Fernandes, on Thursday. Mr. Fernandes was staying with Mr. D’Souza in a flat in Falnir for the last several weeks after an alleged assault on him by his son Steven Fernandes following an altercation he had with his wife.

His wife Ms. Cynthia Fernandes and son Mr. Steven Fernandes were also present at the station. The two groups were called to a cabin and the Police Inspector had a dialogue with them. There was no settlement possible, and the Inspector called of the talks. As they were departing, Mr. D’Souza slapped Ms. Cynthia Fernandes and Mr. Steven Fernandes hit him in retaliation. The police broke up the fight and escorted Mr. D’souza outside the station. While doing so, Mr. D’Souza collapsed. The police arranged for a vehicle and took him to a private hospital where he died.

PUCL vice-president P.B. D’Sa asked Police Commissioner S. Murugan to order a detailed investigation into the incident. Mr. Murugan said a judicial magistrate had recorded the statements of the family members of Mr. Stany Fernandes.