The State police came in for fresh attack from diverse quarters on Wednesday following the suicide by a couple at Changanassery near here after they were subjected to prolonged questioning as part of the investigation into the disappearance of 75 sovereigns of gold from a jewellery where the man worked.
Sunil Kumar and his wife Reshma of Puzhavath were found dead in their house around 3.30 p.m. by relatives who had received a phone call from him stating that he had been beaten up badly by the police personnel at the Changanassery station.
Sunil Kumar was an employee in a jewellery run by Sajikumar, a councillor in the Changanassery municipal council. According to Sunil Kumar’s relative Anil Kumar, the councillor had threatened Sunil Kumar with dire consequences if he did not produce the gold or paid ₹8 lakh by 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to Anil Kumar, Sajikumar, a CPI(M) councillor, was present at the police station when Sunil Kumar was questioned by the police for 12 hours. However, the police authorities said all that they had done was to follow the normal procedures whenever such a complaint came up.
However, the couple took the extreme step immediately on returning home and telling relatives over phone that the police had subjected Sunil Kumar to torture. Although relatives spoke of Sunil Kumar having spoken about a suicide note, the police said no such note had been found from the couple’s home.
The couple’s death led to tension in the town with United Democratic Front (UDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists laying siege to the police station. The UDF and the BJP leadership also announced a dawn-to-dusk hartal on Thursday over the incident.
Inspector General of Police (Central Range) Vijay Sakhare ordered transfer of Changanassery sub-inspector Shameer Khan pending inquiry into the allegation of third degree measures and asked the Dy.SP (DCRB) to inquire into the charge.
Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala called for stern action on the matter and said murder charge should be brought up against the police personnel who had allegedly tortured Sunil Kumar.