Kochi: Bhagavatiparambu Sreejith (26), who died due to severe internal injuries suffered to his abdomen, was taken into custody along with nine others on Friday evening after K M Vasudevan (54), a native of Devaswompadam in Varapuza, committed suicide earlier in the day. The latter allegedly took the extreme step after a gang barged into his house and assaulted and threatened him. The BJP local unit has called for a hartal in Varappuzha panchayat following the death of a youth at a hospital after he was taken into police custody and allegedly subjected to custodial torture.
“The cause of the episode was an altercation between Vasudevan and his neighbour the previous night. However, the incident was given a political colour after a 14-member gang attacked Vasudevan the next day,” police said. The Varapuzha police booked Sreejith and the nine others arrested with various sections including that for abetting suicide, murder attempt and forceful entry into private property. However, the cops are yet to arrest first, second, third and sixth accused in the case.
The LDF had observed a hartal in Varappuzha on Saturday last following the incident. Meanwhile, police personnel have been deployed in strength at Varapuzha and also at the premises of the Kalamassery Medical College, where the autopsy of the youth's body will be held on Tuesday morning, to prevent untoward incidents.
