THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the assembly session on Thursday criticized the recurring incidents of custodial murders happening in Kerala. He said the police had no authority to murder people and stated that the prison was not a place for third-degree torture.

The chief minister was replying to the adjournment motion moved by Muslim League MLA N. Samsudheen in the murder of Thamir Jifri in Tanur. CM also assured about issuing a notification soon requesting a CBI investigation into the case.

Opposition leader V D Satheeshan meanwhile admonished the police force saying they have morphed into a ‘Killer Squad’ in Kerala. “ These police officers won't give ear to any orders of their superiors. They will only obey dictates from CPM leaders who are their true masters” Satheeshan criticized.

Later, the opposition did a walkout from the assembly citing the custodial death of Jifri in Tanur.

N. Samsudheen said that Jifri was arrested on the basis of a pre-prepared script under the leadership of Malappuram SP. MLA said Jifri suffered serious custodial torture and the officers even stooped that low and disrespected his dead body. “ Even the intelligence report was snubbed and no case was registered. The SP held hour-long talks with the doctor who conducted Jifri’s post-mortem. It is high time the government suspended him from service” said Samsudheen.

The Chief Minister said that there will be a Magistrate level inquiry into the incident. 8 policemen including SI were suspended. Malappuram SP's involvement will be investigated separately and appropriate action will be taken. The CM also said about transferring all details to CBI. However, the CM's words later courted controversy after he labeled the Tanur incident as another isolated case.

Opposition irked by the remark said, the government will have to purchase a machine to count the number of such isolated cases happening in the state.