Kollam: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday criticised recent instances of custodial torture and warned the police force against turning themselves into a synonym of brutality. Mr. Vijayan was speaking after inaugurating the state conference of Kerala Police Association held in Kollam on Monday.
“The government in 1957 ended custodial torture but it has reared its head in a more ferocious way now,” the Chief Minister said, mincing no words. “Torture and death in custody have turned into another face of the police force denting its image. This should not be the real face of Kerala Police.” He also urged the police force not to be enslaved to such distortions.
“Violations of the law should not take place in police stations. All policemen are responsible to follow a common code of conduct,” the Chief Minister added.
He also commended the efforts of police force in Sabarimala and said it had strived and succeeded in preventing attempts to ignite communal riots in Sabarimala. “Though the communal oracles targeted the force, the attempts for communal riots were defeated by the police,” he added. Mr. Vijayan also added a high level meeting would be convened to discuss the instances of suicide by the members of police force in the state.
