Kerala fails to rein in rogue cops

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The LDF manifesto had promised to ensure a people-friendly police, which will not commit excesses and carry out custodial torture. Two years down the line, recurring incidents of police highhandedness and now custodial death, clearly point to the government's failure to rein in rogue cops within the force. The alleged custodial torture of Sreejith in Varapuzha who died of severe internal injuries points to serious human rights violation. Within 24 hours of Sreejith's death, another shocking incident was reported from Pallatheri in Palakkad district.

A dalit youth committed suicide with his relatives holding constant police harassment responsible for his death. The youth was an accused in a case of stone pelting on KSRTC bus and he was being repeatedly harassed by police to pay the compensation running into hundreds of rupees. Nine months ago another dalit youth Vinayakan committed suicide a day after he was released from custody of Pavaratty police station. The boy's father says the family has not received justice yet and they would soon start indefinite agitation in front of the secretariat.

Despite Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's repeated warning to cops not to take law into their hands and torture suspects in cases, a section of police seems to be totally defiant. Sharp differences had emerged within the LDF over the police policy. Many LDF leaders say some of the cops have not reconciled to the fact that there's been change in government and police policy. While the top cops often term these incidents as isolated, there is a clear pattern emerging which is disturbing to say the least.

There are reports of blatant violation of arrest and detention laid down by the apex court. These norms also form part of the amended section 41 of CrPC. Human rights allege that there isn't enough vigil on the functioning of the police in the wake of repeated incidents of custodial torture. The government has not been able to send out a strong message to defiant cops that human rights violation will be dealt with sternly.