KOLLAM: Several dignitaries on Monday visited the two dalits, Rajeev, 31, and his uncle Shibu, 40, at the Kollam district hospital where they are undergoing treatment after they were allegedly tortured by the police here last week. They included Justice K. Narayana Kurup, chairman of Kerala State Police Complaint Authority, Mr K. Mohan Kumar, Kerala State Human Rights Commission member, Mr V.M. Sudheeran, KPCC president, and Mr Ezhukone Narayanan, SC/ST commission chairman. Justice Narayana Kurup recorded the statements of the victims and promised to get them justice.
Mr Mohan Kumar registered a suo motu case against the torture and asked the Kollam city police commissioner to submit a detailed report within one month. Mr Sudheeran sent a letter to the chief minister demanding suspension of the guilty police officers, an impartial inquiry by filing criminal charges against them and payment of compensation to the victims. The Congress party would conduct a protest march to the police commissioner’s office here on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Anjalumoodu SI M.K. Prasanth Kumar, who took the duo into custody, was transferred based on a report filed by the special branch police. Mr S. Devarajan with the district Crime Branch office in Kollam was appointed as the SI. Rajeev and Shibu from Amboothazhathu, Kanjiramkuzhi, Thrikkaruva, were taken into custody on October 16 and kept in the lockups of Anjalumoodu and Kollam west police stations for five days and tortured suspecting their involvement in a theft case.
