Two dalit youths allege torture in police custody for 5 days in Kollam

Kollam: Two dalits were taken into custody and allegedly tortured by the police here for five days suspecting their involvement in a theft case. However, they were released on Friday without charging any case against them. The police also forcibly discharged them on Saturday from the district hospital here where they had sought treatment.

Rajeev, 31, and his uncle Shibu, 40, from Amboothazhathu, Kanjiramkuzhi of Thrikkaruva were taken into custody on October 16 and kept in the lockups of Anjalumoodu and Kollam west police stations.

Rajeev was held from a restaurant at Kanjiramkuzhi, where he was working, around 9 p.m. on Sunday. He was taken to Anjalumoodu police station and the policemen, who were not in uniform, allegedly undressed him and beat him up. Only then he came to know that he was nabbed in connection with the missing of money at a concrete ring manufacturing unit nearby where he had worked as a mason earlier. His uncle Shibu, who is a TB patient, was also held later and beaten up.

They suffered injuries in their private parts and on their fingers which were hit with a bamboo stick. They were given food only on Wednesday at the west police station where they were taken on Monday. On Thursday, they were again taken back to Anjalumoodu police station.

Their families, who contacted the police, were not allowed to see them. However, they were set free on Friday after the police found that they were not involved in the theft case. The families filed a petition before the Human Rights Commission and also plan to approach the Chief Minister and the police complaints authority on the incident.