CID to probe death of Faiz Usmani, kin allege torture

MUMBAI: The brother of an alleged Indian Mujahideen ( IM) member today died in a hospital here after being questioned in connection with Wednesday's terror attack even as police prepared the sketch of a suspect based on eyewitness accounts.

Maharashtra DGP Ajit Parasnis ordered a CID inquiry into the death. "A CID inquiry has been ordered into the death of Usmani by the DGP. The state CID will look into various things that resulted into his death," Joint Police Commissioner (Law and Order) Rajnish Seth said.

Faiz Usmani, brother of Afzal Usmani, who is currently lodged in jail for his role in the 2008 Gujarat blasts, today died at 1:30 AM while he was undergoing treatment for hemiparesis and hypertension in the Lokmanya Tilak Hospital, doctors said.

Usmani, a resident of suburban Govandi, was picked up for questioning yesterday by Chembur's Crime Branch unit and as he was not feeling well was admitted in the Lokmanya Tilak Hospital in Sion at around 5:50 PM.

As he died today, Usmani's family alleged that he was tortured in custody.

With the police probing various leads, a senior ATS official said the sketch of the suspect in the serial blasts that left 19 dead and injured over 130 has been prepared.

"The sketch of the suspect is ready. It will be circulated among the select and top investigating officials It will not be released to the public," said the ATS official.

Meanwhile, Azeem Usmani, the victim's son alleged, "My father was picked up for questioning and pressurised during interrogation. They are to blame for his death".

Ryan Kumar, a doctor at the hospital, said, "He (Faiz Usmani) died due to brain hemorrhage. This condition usually comes when a person is exposed to some kind of shock".

Usmani's wife Rubaida said, "When the police came to take him, they said that they will just interrogate him. He had gone alone. So we don't know what the police questioned him about. I don't know to what extent he was tortured, that he got so tensed. They came back in an hour saying he was unwell, he had vomited and admitted to Sion Hospital."