Palakkad: The police force, which is under fire over the alleged shoddy investigation into the mysterious death of two Dalit sisters at Walayar in Palakkad, is facing another allegation of custodial torture.
The youth, John Praveen, who was summoned for questioning by the police in connection with the sisters' death in 2017, was later found to have committed suicide.
His mother has now alleged that the police kept Praveen in unlawful custody and brutally assaulted him. Suspicions have also been raised that attempts were made to wrongfully arraign him in the case.
Praveen was not named as accused in the case or mentioned in any of the case records.
The two minor girls, aged 13 and nine, were found dead at their house in Walayar in a span of two months in 2017. Both of them were allegedly sexually assaulted. A Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court had last week acquitted the accused in the case.
Close to the accused?
Praveen was reportedly a close friend of the prime accused. The then Kasaba circle-inspector (CI) had taken Praveen into custody after the death of the second child. His mother Elizabeth Rani went to the police station the next day to enquire about him but the cops reportedly told her that they had not detained him.
However, after the mother broke down at the station, they said that they would let her see Praveen after the CI comes. After the CI turned up, Praveen, who was allegedly locked up in a room, was allowed to go with his mother.
However, the mother was shocked to find the assault injuries on him.
"Pointing at the swollen legs, he moaned that 'I will not be able to work again.'," Elizabeth recounted.
"Some days later, the brother of the prime accused came to our house and left with Praveen. My son, who returned home only three days later, said that he has been asked to plead guilty in the case. He was also asked to go to the police station next day and sign. However, when I left for work next morning, he killed himself," Elizabeth said.
The hapless mother now has nothing but a last note purportedly written by her son.
"Though I had not committed any mistake, I was humiliated before my neighbours. I cannot take this. None is responsible for my death. Do not trouble my family," said Praveen's last note.
Governor seeks report
Meanwhile, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has sought a report from the state government on the Walayar case.
The governor said that justice should be ensured to the girls' family.
The governor also said that the government has informed him that it would file an appeal against the POCSO court's verdict to acquit the accused in the case.
