Thiruvananthapuram: Superintendent of Police, Rural, S. Gopinath on Saturday said that there were several discrepancies in the statement of the 22-year-old youth, who alleged torture by the police in custody on Friday.

The youth, Shahim S.J., had alleged that the sub-inspector lashed him with a cane and four policemen stood on his thigh at the Mangalapuram police station.

The youth said the SI hit him on the head when he attempted to get up from the floor. He had sustained a gash on the head from the cane blow.

Quoting the medical examination report of Abdul Salam, Associate Professor, Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, the SP said that "no fracture, injury contusion or haemorrhage" were seen on the youth's body. A "skin deep" injury was seen on the skull region. A CT scan of the head, an ultrasound scan of the abdomen and examination of the ear revealed no trauma or injuries. The patient had "no other injuries or complaints" according to the report, the SP said.

The youth had told mediapersons that he had bled from the nose and ears following the alleged assault at the police station. However, there were no blood marks on the shirt he was wearing, the SP told mediapersons.

Mr. Gopinathan said that the DIG, Thiruvananthapuram Range, Anil Kanth, was inquiring into the incident. Hence, it would be inappropriate for him to reveal how Shahim sustained the head injury.

The police had taken him to Medical College Hospital. The policemen, who accompanied the youth, reported the injury as one caused by "accidental fall".

The police arrested Shahim early on Friday on the basis of a complaint filed by a woman CPM activist. The SP said Shahim had assaulted the woman in front of a panchayat election booth on polling day.

The SI had summoned Shahim several times to the police station to take his statement in this connection.

However, the accused did not turn up. He also did not take bail from the court.

The SP said Shahim was a "troublemaker" in local police station records. A case is pending against him in Kazhakottam police station in connection with the assault on a KSRTC driver.

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