K K Surendran
Kozhikode: The state govt has sanctioned Rs 12.5 lakh as compensation to K K Surendran, a retired lecturer who was subjected to custodial torture by police in connection with the 2003 Muthanga land agitation, in compliance with a court order. In an order issued on Oct 8, the home department directed the police chief to release the compensation to Surendran, who was a senior lecturer at District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) in Sulthan Bathery at the time of the incident, and recover the amount from the personal assets of the two police officers held responsible for his illegal arrest and custodial torture. Surendran was allegedly taken forcibly from his staff room on Feb 22, 2003, and assaulted at Sulthan Bathery police station. Surendran subsequently filed a suit seeking Rs 15,00,647 as compensation for illegal arrest, custodial torture, loss of reputation and other damages. The Sulthan Bathery sub court initially awarded him Rs 5 lakh in compensation, with 3% annual interest from the date of filing the suit until realisation. However, the Kalpetta additional district judge-II court recently dismissed the appeals and enhanced the compensation to Rs 12.5 lakh, with 6% annual interest from the date of filing the original suit until realisation.
He was accused in three criminal cases registered in connection with the agitation but was later given a clean chit by CBI and excluded from the list of accused in all three cases. The court held former Sulthan Bathery sub-inspector P Viswambaran and former circle inspector V Devaraj responsible for Surendran’s illegal arrest, custodial torture and the injuries he sustained. Govt and the two officers challenged the verdict. The appellate court also directed govt to recover the compensation from the personal assets of the two officers, jointly and severally, in accordance with the law. (With agency inputs)