Alappuzha: The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has ordered disciplinary action against Edathua sub-inspector Sreekumar and former Mannar circle inspector Shibu Papachan for the custodial torture of K.J. Varghese, Kattapuram house, Edathua, in 2016.
Mr P. Mohanadas, member, KSHRC, asked the district police chief to take action against the cops who had taken Varghese into custody for stealing cash from the KSEB office, Edathua.
The incident happened on November 10, 2016 when Varghese, an accused in four other criminal cases in Edathua police station, was taken to Mannar police station where he was stripped and tortured.
The investigation carried out by chief investigation officer under KSHRC found that Varghese was arrested after Rs 1 lakh went missing from the KSEB office.
During the investigation, police recovered his driving licence from the spot. It was also found that he had remitted Rs 49,000 each in his and his wife’s accounts.
Though the police took him to hospital for check-up before he was remanded in judicial custody, doctors had certified him fit. But he developed uneasiness during remand and a subsequent check-up found marks of torture on his body. Though the probe report was given to the cops, they did not turn up before the commission.
The commission has found that the cops had tortured the complainant. They should face disciplinary action as they had violated the rules in Kerala Police Act, it observed.
