Man killed by police Taser in Australia

Sydney, Jan 12 (IANS/EFE) A man died at a police station in southeastern Australia after being Tasered by officers, officials said Monday.

The victim, 38, was arrested late Sunday at a fast food restaurant in Mittagong following a confrontation with the police who had responded to reports of a disturbance, according to the AAP news agency.

"He was taken back to the Bowral police station where unfortunately a short time later he died at the police station," said police assistant commissioner Gary Worboys.

"The man was Tasered. Police chose to use a number of tactical options and one of those was the use of the Taser," he added.

The authorities are investigating the death and the circumstances of the confrontation, in which two officers also received head injuries.

The incident follows the case of Brazilian student Roberto Curti who died in March 2012 after being at the receiving end of 14 discharges from a Taser while being pursued by the police for having stolen a packet of biscuits.

The electric pistols, that emit electrical discharges of 400 volts, are used by security forces in countries like Australia, Britain and the US to bring down an aggressor in situations that do not warrant the use of firearms.

However, organisations such as Amnesty International claim that Tasers have already killed dozens of people and could also be used to torture detainees.

--IANS/EFE

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