Kerala was in for a rude shock last year when a tribal youth, Madhu (27), was lynched by the local people in Attapady in Palakkad on charges of stealing food material from a shop. It seems, it is time for the state to repay and reach out to his kin.

Braving all odds, his sister Chandrika, came out with flying colours. She is one among the 74 tribal recruits who passed out of the police training college in Thrissur on Wednesday as a civil police officer. Malli, her mother, watched the whole proceedings in tears as Chandrika marched with the Kerala police.

“I want to surge ahead leaving behind bitter memories. As a police officer, I will ensure justice to all victims,” the B.Com graduate said. She became a part of the contingent through a special recruitment drive. State Director General of Police Loknath Behra personally congratulated her after the passing out parade which took place at the Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur.

The lynching of frail Madhu triggered an outrage after the video of the attack had gone viral. One of the pictures posted on social media showed a man holding a stick questioning the tribal, while another was seen taking a selfie with the bleeding victim. Badly injured, later, he was handed over to the police but died on the way to the hospital in February 2018. Later, his mother had said he led a nomadic life and used to stay in caves and he might have stolen food due to hunger. The special investigation team had arrested 16 people in connection with the lynching.

This is the first battalion in the state comprising tribal cadets from three districts, Wayanad, Idukki and Palakkad. During the one year rigorous training, officers were given training in martial arts, swimming, driving, high-altitude fighting and rescue operations, said an official of the training academy. They will be deployed in fringe areas of forests near their homes. Among 74 cadets, 24 are women.

First Published: May 16, 2019 20:11 IST