Kochi: State Police Complaints Authority Chairman Justice K Narayana Kurup on Friday took the statement of the 19-year-old Dalit boy who was allegedly subjected to custodial torture by Palarivattom police and said he would recommend to the state government to take action against three cops, terming the case as “extraordinary”. Kurup called on Sooraj, a resident of Vennala, at the Government Medical College, Kalamassery, where the youth is undergoing treatment following the incident which took place Sunday last.
“Cases should be registered under relevant sections of the IPC against two civil police officers who participated in the assault. Would recommend punitive action against them and also the Station House Officer in whose presence the assault was carried out,” Kurup said. Justifying the decision to consider it as an extraordinary case, Kurup said the youngster was the sole bread winner of a family of six. His father is a heart patient and mother is undergoing treatment for cancer.
Though Sooraj was moved out of ICU to ward, it is clear he had suffered serious injuries, especially around ribs. Sooraj was allegedly assaulted after he went to Palarivattom police station earlier this month to report on a family spat. Police accused him of having turned up at the station in his two-wheeler after consuming alcohol. Subsequently, the police allegedly beat him up suspecting him to be one of the youths who had shown abusive gestures at them near a Bevco outlet. Later, he was taken to the hospital following swelling on upper torso.
