Theft accused in ICU; Four cops of Fort police station suspended

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Four cops attached to the Thiruvananthapuram Fort station have been suspended for allegations of custodial torture using third degree methods. The action was taken against them for brutally assaulting an accused arrested in a vehicle theft case. The cops suspended are grade sub inspector Sreekumar and policemen Sunil, Girish and Siju Kumar.

Jinu Baby of Kottayam and Unni of Thiruvananthapuram were arrested by the police in a bike theft case. An investigation by the Fort Assistant Commissioner had found that Jinu was brutally assaulted by the police. Jinu taken into custody from Kochi was assaulted when brought to Thiruvananthapuram. The assault came to light during a CCTV examination.

The two stole a bike parked in front of a hotel in Thiruvananthapuram. The police identified Jinu, a habitual thief, from the CCTV footage. Based on the information provided by the Fort police, the DANSAF team in Kochi caught Jinu and handed him over to the Central police. The Fort police then took Jinu, his co-accused Unni and another minor into custody. When the theft was proved, only Jinu and Unni were listed as accused in the case, the minor was excluded. The two were later remanded last Saturday. A medical examination showed that the health condition of Jinu was very bad.

Jinu's condition deteriorated when taken to the district jail. He was then admitted to the general hospital and from there to the intensive care unit of the medical college. Jinu's kidneys are found to be damaged in the assault. His hand is also seriously injured. After undergoing surgery on his hand, Jinu has been shifted to the intensive care unit. Unni is also undergoing treatment. The City Police Commissioner has also ordered a departmental inquiry against the Fort Police officials for showing that the accused caught in Kochi was arrested in Thiruvananthapuram.