THRISSUR: All the major political parties are planning to start a protest demanding dismissal of police officials involved in the alleged custodial torture meted out to Dalit youth Vinayak of Engadiyur last week. The incident took place at the Pavaratty police station. The youth who was taken into custody in the afternoon on July 17, was released the same day. He committed suicide the next day allegedly due to the physical and mental torture meted out to him in police custody. Police had accused him of being a chain snatcher and ganja peddler.
The DYFI is organising a protest march to Pavaratty police station on Friday demanding ouster of all the policemen who are involved in the alleged custodial torture. Different Dalit organisations have formed an action council in Engandiyur and on August 2, Dalit leader M. Geethanadan, among others will take part in the protest march to Thrissur Range IG’s office. A senior police officer and a civil police officer from Pavaratty are at present under suspension. The post-mortem report of Vinayak was released on Monday and it shows scalp contusions and abrasions on both the nipples of the youth.
Besides that, there were six abrasions on the left side of the front chest and another abrasion on his little toe. However, DC has learnt from the police team investigating the case that these injuries which occurred in the last 24 hours before his death could not be considered as an evidence for any severe police torture.
The police team led by Valappad CI has not yet collected the statements from Vinayak’s friend Sarath of Engadiyur, who was also taken into custody from a road in Pavaratty. Sarath had alleged that cops in Valappad police subjected the alleged victim to severe physical torture at the station. “Vinayak, after his release from the custody had spoken to Nattika DYFI block secretary Sultan and showed him the contusions on his body. Sultan later posted it on his Facebook. So, we are convinced that the youth was tortured in custody,” DYFI Thrissur secretary P.B. Anoop told DC.
