Something suspicious in custody death, admits CM

Thiruvananthapuram: The opposition, in the assembly on Wednesday, demanded an inquiry by a police officer in the rank of ADGP into the alleged torture in police custody and subsequent death of an accused in a financial fraud case at Peermade in Idukki district. Meanwhile, replying to an adjournment motion moved by UDF MLA P T Thomas, chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan admitted that there was something ‘suspicious’ behind the incident.
Before staging a walkout after Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan denied leave for an adjournment motion, opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said there were clear indications of police excess in the death of Rajkumar, a native of Peermade “who was taken into custody on June 12, instead of June 17 as shown in police records”.
“The police did not follow the procedures while taking the accused in custody. There should be an inquiry by a ADGP rank officer,” he demanded.
Earlier, P T Thomas alleged that Rajkumar was under illegal custody of police for 105 hours and 30 minutes and was tortured continuously before he was produced before court on June 17. “Even the Idukki SP knew about this illegal custody and some local CPM workers are involved in Rajkumar’s arrest and torture,” he alleged.
According to law, a person who has been taken into custody by the police, should be produced before a court or magistrate within 24 hours, P T Thomas said.
In his reply, Vijayan said the government will not justify or protect police officers if they are found guilty of custodial torture. “It’s a serious allegation. The crime branch has now been assigned to investigate the case. It will be a comprehensive investigation by a special team which will inquire into all aspects, including adherence to norms while taking the accused into custody, whether the SP had prior information on any such illegal custody and on the suspicious marks found on the deceased’s body,” he said.
The CM also said that there will be a department-level inquiry against the officers who have already been suspended or transferred in connection with the incident.
Meanwhile, the opposition leader alleged that among the recent governments, the current one led by Pinarayi Vijayan has now topped in the number of custodial deaths with 32 cases being reported in the last three years. “Government’s laxity and lack of action against guilty police officers are leading to more such torture and deaths,” he said.
Rajkumar, 49, had died at the Peermade thaluk hospital on June 21. As per the initial post-mortem report, he had suffered serious injuries and had at least 32 wounds on both legs below the knee.