Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday told Assembly that a special investigation team would investigate the alleged custodial death of a 49-year-old remand prisoner in Peermade sub jail in Idukki dsitrict .
The Chief Minister, who was replying to an adjournment motion notice moved by P.T. Thomas of Congress, assured stringent action against those behind the custodial death of the prisoner Raj Kumar. The government will not spare the people responsible for the death, howsoever important positions they may be occupying. There is no question of justifying the grave crime. The failure to produce the prisoner in the court was a serious violation of law and persons concerned would be held accountable for this grave lapse.
Mr Vijayan said the role of senior officers would also be subjected to scrutiny while investigating the case.
Kumar, who owned Haritha Finance at Thookupalam, was taken into custody on June 12 on the charges of financial irregularities and fraud. His death occurred on June 21 while in custody.
The relatives of Raj Kumar alleged that the police tortured him in custody for four consecutive days and that finally led to his death in Peermade taluk hospital on June 21.
Earlier, Mr Thomas alleged that the youth was kept in illegal police custody for 105 hours and 30 minutes in blatant violation of Supreme Court guidelines on arrests and detention. Under LDF Government policemen with criminal background were holding plump positions and they are wreaking havoc. Those involved in torture deaths are being honoured and there seems to be complete anarchy in police department, he alleged.
The opposition also referred to the custodial death of Sreejith in Varapuzha. The government had taken such gruesome incidents lightly and the accused cops had been given good service entry and even promotions.
The police had denied the torture charge claiming Raj Kumar's death was due to health issues including pneumonia. However, the post-mortem examination report given by Kottayam Medical College hospital cited 32 injuries on the victim's body. It is suspected that the cops had used third degree method to torture Raj Kumar.
The Chief Minister said that it was ironical that he had to reply on the allegations of custodial torture death on the anniversary of Emergency. Mr Vijayan was indirectly referring to the gruesome torture he suffered in custody during Emergency.
Later UDF members staged a walkout from Assembly in protest against the Speaker's denial to allow a discussion on the issue of custodial torture death.
