The recent deaths of two youths, soon after their release from police custody, has thrown up disturbing questions over the manner in which guidelines for arrests and detention are being violated by the Kerala police.
The death of Krishna Kumar in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday was the latest incident to shake the state. The 37-year-old man, who was taken into custody following a brawl, died soon after his release. Moments before his death, Krishna Kumar reportedly told his relatives that he had been tortured by the cops. A crime branch inquiry has now been ordered into the incident and it could take years to unravel the truth.
A fortnight ago, Suresh, 21, committed suicide in Ambalapuzha soon after he was released on bail in an assault case. The relatives allege that Suneesh could not come to terms with the torture and humiliation he suffered in custody. Again a high level inquiry has been ordered to nab the accused.
The two incidents come at a time when the Kerala police’s image has suffered a severe dent following the custodial death of Sampath. The CBI has even arraigned two top IPS officers as accused in the case.
So what has gone wrong with the much touted people friendly and humane face of Kerala cops? “All is well,’’ says a top police officer refuting allegations of police torture. He says most incidents are accidental and are also isolated.
But what is disturbing is the clear pattern in such cases that point to recurring violation of arrest and detention norms. Rights activists say cases of custodial torture can be prevented if cops follow existing laws for arrest and dentition.
‘SHRC keeps off cop cases’
The State Human Rights Commission has been accused of dragging its feet while discharging its duties especially in cases involving the police.
Human rights activists in the state allege that SHRC takes its time in taking up these cases.
While the police has been being accused of torture in the death of a youth in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday and the accident of two schoolchildren involving cops in Mulanthuruthy a week ago are yet to be taken up, the SHRC has the found cleansing of an office with water and cow dung a more serious issue.
Commenting on the SHRC’s inaction, former commission member and activist Dr S. Balaram said: “During our term, we monitored the media regularly and conducted inquiries when there was a violation. The Commission’s operation costs the government lakhs of rupees. If the common man does not benefit, why run this? People without social commitment getting into this is dangerous,” he said. D.B. Binu, general secretary, Human Rights Defence Forum, said: “The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, vests the Commission with the power to conduct an inquiry against the police if they’re found taking no action.”
Another duty of the Commission is to check police stations to ensure SC norms on arrests are followed. When the court direction came in 2002, the Commission conducted hundreds of checks in police stations in the state.
“Kerala’s Commission was the first to conduct suchchecks. Several violations across Kerala had come to light then. But no such checks have been conducted in recent days,” Binu alleged.