Demotion or dismissal; severe action likely in Kunnamkulam custodial assault case

THRISSUR: The DGP has received legal advice to continue departmental action in the incident where a Youth Congress leader was brutally beaten up at Kunnamkulam police station. Strict action will be taken against the policemen involved in the custodial assault. Demotion or dismissal is possible. The Thrissur Range DIG has currently recommended the suspension of four police officers who are accused. The suspension of the policemen has been recommended in the report submitted to the North Zone IG. It has also been directed to review the disciplinary action. The report to the North Zone IG was submitted by DIG Harishankar.

SI Nuhman, CPOs Saseendran, Sandeep and Sajeevan are included in the list of accused. Another accused policeman, Shuhair, works in the local government department, so departmental action is not possible. The DIG report points out that a criminal case has been registered against four policemen and therefore they should be suspended. Action is likely to be taken against the policemen today. The order may be issued today itself.

VS Sujith, who faced the custodial assault, is demanding that the officers be dismissed, not suspended. Sujith responded that he was not satisfied with the suspension recommendation. He added that the officers do not deserve to continue in government service. The truth came to light when the CCTV footage of the incident that took place on April 5, 2023, was brought out through a legal battle. Sujith had questioned the police who had threatened his friends standing on the roadside. SI Nuhman, who did not like this, took Sujith to the station and brutally beat him. Apart from Nuhman, CPOs Saseendran, Sandeep and Sajeevan also brutally assaulted Sujith.