Brutal crime committed in front of children

Neyyattinkara: Deputy superintendent of police B Harikumar committed the heinous crime of manhandling Sanal Kumar and pushing him in front of a speeding car in the presence of a few children, who were celebrating Diwali in front of their homes. Among the children were two brothers, a 10-year-old and a four-year-old, who were neighbours of the police officer’s friend Binu. Since their house did not have a compound wall, they witnessed the entire incident from their courtyard.
The boys’ grandmother said Sanal Kumar used to frequent a nearby tea shop and had tea before heading home after work. On Monday night too, he went to the shop to have tea.

“He parked his car right in front of our house and went to the tea shop,” the woman said, pointing at Sanal Kumar’s car which was still parked there. She added that her grandsons could narrate the incidents as they witnessed it clearly.

The elder boy, who is a Class V student in a nearby school, said that the attack against Sanal Kumar was an unprovoked one.

“We saw him (Harikumar) come out of the house and shouting at the other uncle (Sanal Kumar) to move his car. When he took time to reach the spot, he (Harikumar) kicked the car,” the boy said. When Sanal Kumar questioned this, the police officer verbally and physically abused him and snatched the key and then threw it away. The key got struck in a mesh of wire above. He then pushed Sanal Kumar to the road and a speeding car hit him, the boy said.

The boys’ mother said that Sanal had to lie on the road for more than 20 minutes till ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital. She also said that the DSP was a regular visitor to Binu’s residence, who too incidentally had a shady past.

Sanal was the lone breadwinner of the family comprising his wife Viji, two children and mother. He also has a sister. His father had allegedly committed suicide a few years ago.

According to neighbours, Sanal was a hardworking person, who built his own house three years ago. Sanal’s funeral will take place on Wednesday, said his relatives.

Police have registered a murder case (IPC 302) against Harikumar for the death of the youth at Kodungavila near Neyyattinkara on Monday night. Harikumar, who is absconding, has been suspended from service.