The Hindu : Kerala News : Custodial death: SHRC registers case

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Sunday, Apr 10, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Custodial death: SHRC registers case

By Our Staff Reporter

KOLLAM, APRIL 9. The Kerala State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has registered a case against the Kollam East Police station in connection with the custodial death of Rajendran, 37, who was taken into custody by the police on charges of theft.

Talking to The Hindu today, the SHRC member, S. Varghese, said that the case was registered on Friday. It was on Wednesday afternoon that Rajendran was taken into custody and he was declared dead the same evening.

Following the registration of the case, the SHRC would conduct a detailed inquiry into the circumstances under which Rajendran was taken into custody, allegations of harassment at the police station and reasons behind his death in custody.

Prof. Varghese said that the Commission had been constantly receiving complaints that the Kollam East Police station was allegedly adopting third degree methods on arrested persons. The Commission would inspect the station soon, he said. There were allegations that some rooms in the Police Museum within the station complex were being used as ``torture cells.''

The additional sub-inspector attached to the station, S. Babu, was placed under suspension from today in connection with the custodial death. Mr. Babu was holding charge of the station since the sub-inspector, Ajith Kumar, had gone on training.

The Kollam SP, S. Sreejith, said that Mr. Babu was suspended on the basis of the investigations into the case conducted so far. He did not rule out the possibility of more policemen getting suspended as the investigation progresses.

As per the first information report (FIR) filed by Mr. Babu, two constables attached to the crime squad of the station had taken Rajendran out of the police station for more than an hour and it was after bringing him back that he swooned. At that time, Mr. Babu was on security duty outside the station in connection with the visit of the Assembly Speaker.

Meanwhile, as per directions from higher police authorities, the investigating team would also look into why the FIR was filed by the additional sub-inspector instead of the concerned Circle Inspector, especially when it was a grave incident.

Section 36 of the Cr.PC warrants that cases of such nature should be registered by the concerned superior officer, the police sources said.

Meanwhile, the District Collector, B. Sreenivasan, has sent a copy of the post mortem report and investigation details of the custodial death to the NHRC.

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