The complainant, Abhilash of Poovathunkal is undergoing treatment at Kottayam Govt Medical College Hospital
He was reportedly released only after the scheduled caste promoter was called in.
Kottayam : A tribal youth has alleged that a group of plainclothes police officers forcibly took him from his house at Poonjar Thekkekara and assaulted him, according to a complaint lodged with the police. The complaint said Abhilash, who works under a KSEB contractor, was taking rest at home when a five-member team in mufti kicked open the door and made him get up from his bed. The police said Abhilash is suspected to be an accused in the theft of KSEB cables and was taken into custody for questioning. They also said he created a commotion inside the vehicle.
When he asked the reason, the team, which identified itself as police, allegedly beat him and dragged him into a car. Relatives and neighbours who tried to intervene were allegedly abused. The complaint alleges that Abhilash was hit on the head inside the car and kicked all over his body after he fell down. The beating allegedly continued while he was shifted from the car into a police jeep. He was also allegedly threatened with a false case of stealing KSEB cables and with imprisonment if he complained. The police have not commented on the assault allegations. Demands have been raised for an impartial inquiry into whether he was assaulted during and after being taken into custody, and for strict action against the personnel concerned if the complaint is found to be true.