A 19-year-old who was taken into custody by the Pavaratty police allegedly committed suicide at Engandiyoor on Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Vinayak, son of Krishnan Kutty of Engandiyur.
Vinayak, an employee of a beauty parlour at Engandiyur, and his friend Sarath were taken into custody on Monday afternoon. Sarath said they were tortured by the police alleging them to be chain-snatchers.
The police asked Vinayak, who had grown his hair, to cut his hair, he added.
On reaching home, his parents too insisted that Vinayak cut his hair. He allegedly hanged himself in his room early on Tuesday.
However, Guruvayur Assistant Commissioner of Police Sivadasan denied allegations of custodial torture.
“A police team found the two youths and a woman during regular patrolling. As they did not have any valid documents or licence they were taken to police station. They were later released by Vinayak’s father,” the ACP said.
MLA calls for action
Condemning the police action, K.V. Abdul Khader, MLA, demanded action against the policemen allegedly involved in the incident.
The Thrissur City Police Commissioner asked the Guruvayur ACP to investigate the complaint and submit report at the earliest.
Congress hartal today
The Congress called for a hartal on Wednesday at Engandiyur, Elavally, Pavaratty, Mullassery, and Venkidangu panchyats in protest against the incident. Youth Congress workers took out a march to the police station. DCC president T.N. Prathapan demanded a Crime Branch investigation in the case.
The police have ordered an inquiry into the suspected suicide of the youth, according to a report from Thiruvananthapuram.
State Police Chief Loknath Behera tasked Inspector General of Police, Thrissur, M.R. Ajith Kumar to conduct the probe.