Stern action against policemen in Varapuzha case: Kodiyeri

CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan here on Monday visited the relatives of S.R. Sreejith, a native of Varappuzha who had died under police custody.

During an interaction with Sreejith’s family members, Mr. Balakrishnan promised stern action against the policemen culpable of Sreejith’s murder, irrespective of their official clout. He also told them that the government was approaching the case without prejudice.

The family members narrated to him about the brutal assault Sreejith had endured while being taken into custody.

Addressing mediapersons after the visit, Mr. Balakrishnan demanded government job for Sreejith’s widow and also compensation for the family. According to him, it was the previous LDF government that had brought the Police Act into effect to check unlawful interventions by the force.

“During the tenure of the previous UDF government, four lock-up deaths were reported and the brother of one of the victim had conducted a long-drawn strike in front of the Secretariat to get justice which was addressed by the LDF government,” he said.

Regarding the reluctance on the part of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to visit Sreejith’s house, Mr. Balakrishnan sought to refute the reports to this effect and clarified that the CM might have had prior official commitments.

The CPI(M) state secretary did not face any vociferous protest as widely perceived and there was a heavy posse of police in Varapuzha ahead of his visit. He was also accompanied by the CPI(M) Ernakulam district secretary P. Rajeev, among others.