Mumbai blast detainee dies in hospital after police probe

Mumbai, July 17 (ANI): Faiz Usmani, who was detained for questioning in connection with Mumbai's triple blasts, died in hospital on Sunday after allegedly being tortured in police custody.

Police officials admitted Usmani to Lokmanya Tilak Hospital, which is popularly known as Sion Hospital, in Mumbai, on Saturday after he reported feeling sick during questioning.

Medical Officer Raeen Kamar said Usmani's death was due to a brain hemorrhage.

"(Usmani) was admitted by the police, I had enquired to who brought him here- relatives, family. It is written in the admission form that police brought him here. A CT Scan of his brain was done, which showed massive bleeding in the brain. In this condition, ventilation and ICU are required, but due to non-availability of the bed, he was treated in the general ward itself. Now, he's dead. Brain hemorrhage could be due to shock and mental disturbance," said Kamar.

Usmani's family has claimed that the police tortured Usmani. The police has denied the charge, saying he was suffering from hypertension.

"My brother was sitting at the shop when they came calling for our father. My father, who was having lunch, immediately came down and was taken by 8 men to Chembur. Police came later on told our mother that father was admitted in hospital. When we came he was in a very serious condition, he was vomiting and was completely immobile," said Azeem Usmani, a son of Faiz Usmani.

Faiz Usmani is the brother of Afzal Usmani, who is currently lodged in a jail in connection with the 2008 Gujarat serial blasts.

Afzal Usmani is believed to be an Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative. The Mumbai Crime Branch arrested him in 2008. He is said to have provided cars in the 2008 Gujarat serial blasts.

Three blasts had rocked crowded areas of Mumbai during rush hour on Wednesday that killed 19 people and injured over 131 in one of the major militant attacks on India's financial capital since 2008.

The major blast was at the Opera House, which once housed operas and is now a hub for diamond traders. The other blasts occurred at the Zaveri Bazaar, India's largest bullion market, and Dadar, a crowded centre of the city.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts as yet. (ANI)