Police thrashed him, alleges man’s brother

HUBBALLI: Following an altercation with police at a checkpost for venturing out during the lockdown, a 45-year-old bus conductor decided to swim to his village — just over 1km away — and ended up drowning in the Krishna. Mallappa Bommanagi’s body was found near Amargol in Vijayapura district on Wednesday.Mallappa, who was working at the NEKRTC’s Ballari depot for the past 12 years, was stopped by police at Tangadagi checkpost in Muddebihal (Vijayapura) on Tuesday when he was returning with his wife and five-month-old daughter. He was fetching them from his in-laws’ home in Sarur village in Muddebihal where his wife had delivered the child.While Mallappa’s home in Hullalli village in Bagalkot district and his in-laws’ place across the river in Vijayapura is about 22km apart, vehicles usually take a shorter route which cuts the distance to 10-12km.These roads were blockaded and vehicles being checked. Mallappa wanted to escort his wife and baby girl home, said Parasappa, his elder brother.“On Monday, he reached Sarur in a goods vehicle through Dannur and Muddebihal highway bridge . The three of them were returning on Tuesday in another goods vehicle when they were stopped at Tangadagi. When police objected to Mallappa moving around during lockdown, the vehicle dropped them there and left,” Parasappa said. Mallappa’s house is 1-1.5km fromthere.Police reportedly took Mallappa to task for stepping out during the lockdown, and after an argument, allowed his wife and child to go home. Mallappa’s wife managed to walk the stretch with the infant in her arms. Parasappa said police thrashed Mallappa for arguing with them and refused to let him pass. “Unwilling to walk home and risk a face-off again at Tangadagi, he decided to swim. As he did not have courage to face police again, he took such a step,” said Parasappa.Mallappa Maddi, SI, did not comment on the allegations of a face-off or thrashing.