Police brutality on wedding group: Woman, husband suffer broken bones to head injuries

PATHANAMTHITTA: The terrible incident happened near the bar at Aban Junction in Pathanamthitta on Tuesday at 11.30 pm. A group of 16 people after attending a relative's wedding ceremony in Kollam Bharanikkavu were returning back to Pathanamthitta. They were natives of Malayalapuzha, Erumeli and Mundakayam.

Meanwhile, the group stopped their vehicle and got down to accompany one of their member, a Malayalapuzha native woman named Jolly, whose husband Sabu was on the way to pick her up. Meanwhile, wedding group members Sreejith, Sitara and Ajay Ajith walked almost 50 m in the area and took a selfie. A police patrol suddenly stormed the place and the SI and four policemen jumped into them shouting obscenities. The police kicked Sitara who fell to the ground.

When the police reached the spot, two people wearing helmets ran away from the spot. Police mistook the gang for burglars and unleashed the attack.

The three people were taken to the Pathanamthitta General Hospital in the same van they arrived after the wedding. The CCTV visuals of the incident were also released.

SC, ST department ignored the demand of the complainants to charge the case with attempted murder. The police have been charged with assault using lethal weapons. Departmental action was initiated against the police officers involved in the lathi charge on a wedding group in Pathanamthitta. Pathanamthitta SI S Jinu has been transferred to the SP office. Further actions will be decided by the DIG. The District Police Chief has submitted a detailed report of the incident to the DIG.