Accused beaten in Viyyur jail; Complaint filed against officials; NIA court directs superintendents to appear

THRISSUR: The NIA court has ordered the superintendents of Viyyur and Poojappura jails to appear via video conference in connection with a complaint alleging that the accused were beaten up in Viyyur Central Jail. The complaint said the accused were beaten by a group of officers. P M Manoj and Azharuddin, the accused in the NIA case were beaten. The two seriously injured has been admitted to the hospital. The NIA court also ordered the medical college superintendent to submit a report on the health condition of the accused.

The accused were beaten on October 13. It is reported that an argument over entering the cell resulted in the attack. The complaint said the attack was led by jail warden Abhinav, joint superintendent Sreejith and deputy superintendent Kiran. Following the attack, the DGP received a complaint demanding that a case be registered against the jail officials.

Azharuddin is an accused in the Coimbatore car blast case in 2022 and Sri Lanka Easter bombing case in 2019. Arrested by the NIA in 2019, he was also charged with ISIS links and terrorist recruitment case. Maoist Manoj, known as Aashiq, was arrested from Ernakulam South Railway Station in July 2024. He is an accused in 16 cases, including 10 UAPA cases. Manoj was an active member of the Maoist Kabani Dalam.