Sreejev custodial death: Probe on course, assures ADGP B Sandhya

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 29-year old youth is on an indefinite fast in front of the Secretariat over alleged inaction against police officers responsible for his brother’s death. But top officials maintain the probe is progressing. The government had formed a special investigation team headed by DySP (Special Branch CID Thiruvananthapuram-Range), Prathapan Nair, to investigate the alleged custodial murder of Sreejeev, 26, after Parassala police took him into custody.

ADGP South-Zone B. Sandhya who is monitoring it said the probe was progressing in the right direction and would be over soon, while Mr Nair said they were awaiting reports on scientific evidence they collected. The SIT was formed as per a directive of the State Police Complaints Authority (SPCA). Crime Branch economic offence wing circle inspector Santosh Kumar and city crime branch sub-inspector Mohanan are other members of the investigation team.

A probe by the SPCA, headed by Justice Narayana Kurup, had found that the then Parassala circle inspector Gopakumar and additional sub-inspector Philipose were guilty of brutal physical assault on Sreejeev in custody, which led to his death. Sreejeev, allegedly held at the behest of a neighbour, Varghese, was in a relationship with his daughter and fearing that the girl would elope with him, he approached additional sub-inspector Philipose, one of his relatives, to take him into custody. Sreejeev's brother Sreejith has been staging a protest in front of Secretariat over last 430 days, and he started fasting 15 days back.