Kollam: A team of CPI MLAs led by Chittayam Gopakumar, including R. Ramachandran and G.S. Jayalal visited the Dalit police torture victims at the district hospital here on Wednesday.
“The Dalits were tortured based on mere suspicion by the police. The LDF policy is that the police should be polite and more friendly towards the public as part of Janamythri Policing. The brutal act without acknowledging the change at the helm is condemnable,” said Mr Gopakumar.
The victims told the team that they underwent continuous torture for five days in illegal confinement and were also deprived of meeting relatives who reached the police station.
“We were taken into custody on October 14 and were set free only on October 20. They made us unable to live even by doing manual labour,” Rajeev, a victim, told them. The team paid the visit on a directive from state council.
Rajeev (31) and his uncle Shibu (40) from Amboothazhathu, Kanjiramkuzhi in Thrikkaruva were taken into custody and were kept in the lockups of Anjalumoodu and Kollam West Police stations for five days and were made to undergo third-degree torture.
Indira, Mr Rajeev’s mother and Mr Shibu’s wife Soumya submitted a petition to the MLAs demanding action against the police officers.
“It is evident that it's a case of illegal confinement. One of the victims is a TB patient also. The issue will be brought to the notice of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran. There has been a deliberate attempt by some of the officers to tarnish the image of LDF government,” said Mr Ramachandran.
KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran will flag off a protest march by the District Congress Committee to the police commissioner's office demanding justice to the Dalits on Thursday.
