Kerala: Human Rights panel takes up Dalit torture

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.