Kerala Police, which is considered among the top in crime investigation in India, continues to rank first in brutally assaulting poor and ordinary people. Shocking details have come out two years after Sujith, a Youth Congress leader from Thrissur, was mercilessly beaten and his eardrum ruptured by the police, despite committing no crime. It is alarming that the police showed such cruelty in a society that prides itself on being modern.

The incident happened on April 5, 2023, involving Sujith, who is also a temple priest and the president of the Youth Congress in Chovvanur constituency. Sujith had reportedly questioned police threats against friends standing nearby. Following this, a false FIR was prepared claiming that he was drunk, causing trouble, and obstructing police duty. When brought to the station, he was beaten by an SI and CPOs. However, medical examination showed that he had not consumed alcohol, and the Chavakkad magistrate court granted him bail. The shocking incident came to light after Sujith obtained CCTV footage of the assault at Kunnamkulam police station through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The footage was a clear example of what can be described as policemen acting like criminals in uniform.

The brutal custodial assault at Kunnamkulam was carried out by those entrusted with protecting the public. Police are supposed to resolve the complaints of ordinary citizens, yet in this case, a public activist was beaten for filing a complaint against officials. It is reported that departmental disciplinary action has been initiated in the matter. Crucial evidence that helped in the initial investigation came from CCTV footage. The shocking scenes that the public has now seen were already available to the police officers responsible for investigating the disciplinary violation. If they understood the severity of the incident but chose to ignore the footage, their approach must also be questioned. Even now, there is no evidence that serious action reflecting the gravity of the matter has been taken. Many educated young people are joining the police force today, and most treat ordinary citizens with respect. However, the actions of a few bad officers can tarnish the reputation of the entire force. Recently, in Thiruvalla, a case was filed against a migrant worker who was injured in a collision with a vehicle driven by an AIG, causing national embarrassment to the police. After public protests, the FIR was revised to hold the driver accountable. Shockingly, the injured person was in the hospital when the case was initially filed against him. Those responsible for such inhumane acts, including the leadership that allowed it, should be removed from service.

Recently, the accused policemen in the custodial death of Udayakumar in Thiruvananthapuram were acquitted by the court. The grief of the mother whose son was killed in custody remains fresh in memory. Some officers seem to believe they have a license to do anything because they are police. Those involved in Sujith’s assault are examples of this mindset. Merely transferring them under the guise of disciplinary action is ineffective. To ensure such abuses are not repeated, strict punishment is essential. The public expects zero leniency, particularly with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who has previously endured severe custodial torture, now overseeing the Home Ministry.