Court orders further probe in suicide case of dalit youth 

THRISSUR: The court ordered further investigation in the suicide case of a dalit youth released from police custody. The order was that of Thrissur SCST Court. The family's complaint is that the youth committed suicide following police harassment.

The youth who committed suicide is Chakandan Vinayakan, a native of Engandiyur. The crime branch had submitted the first charge sheet in the Thrissur Principal Sessions Court stating that the police had attacked him in the case. The charge sheet mentioned that T P Sreejith and K Sajan, cops of Pavaratty station, jointly attacked Vinayakan. Sections such as unjust detention, beating, threats and violation of Scheduled Caste Atrocities Act were imposed on him. However, the policemen were not charged with abetment to suicide. The family alleged that this was a loophole for the police to escape. Two policemen were suspended earlier in the case.

Vinayakan was taken into custody on July 17, 2017, while talking to his friend in Pavaratty. He was released when his family arrived. The next morning Vinayakan was found hanging in his house. The post-mortem report mentioned that he was brutally attacked. When the local police failed to investigate, the family approached the chief minister. Following this, the crime branch ordered an investigation. The family had also lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta.

The Lokayukta had strongly criticized for not registering case under the SC-ST Act. Later the section of causing bodily harm was imposed. His relatives alleged that Vinayakan took the extreme step due to police harassment.