Kollam (Kerala), Jul 28 (PTI) The Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Tuesday directed the Kollam Rural District Police Chief to investigate allegations that a 36-year-old private bus driver died due to custodial torture and submit a report within seven days.
Commission member V Geetha also directed the officer concerned to appear before the panel with the inquiry report at its sitting to be held here on August 5, according to a statement.
The Commission registered a case on its own based on media reports regarding the death of Siyad, a native of Societymukku in Kundara, Kollam district, who died while undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on July 24.
The deceased person’s family has alleged that interrogation in police custody led to his death.
According to the family, Siyad was taken into custody by Kundara police from his house on the night of June 16 after a complaint that a 13-year-old neighbour had gone missing.
He was released the following day after the boy returned home and it emerged that Siyad had no connection with the incident.
His wife alleged in the media that he was assaulted while being taken in a police jeep and again at the police station. She claimed that he later complained of severe body pain and told the family that he had been brutally beaten in custody.
The family further alleged that doctors found injuries to his ribs, which later developed complications. He was initially admitted to the Kollam District Hospital and later shifted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, where he died.
An audio message purportedly recorded by Siyad, alleging custodial assault, also surfaced recently. Police have denied the allegations, maintaining that Siyad was not subjected to custodial assault. PTI LGK ADB
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