Kottayam: The murdered youth whose body was dumped in front of a police station here during the early hours of Monday suffered severe torture, says the autopsy report. According to the report, Shan Babu, a resident of Vimalagiri in Kottayam, died following cerebral haemorrhage caused by a blow with an object such as a strip of wood. During the autopsy, several beating marks were also found on the back side of Shan’s body. In total, there were 38 marks which indicated thrashings received by Shan.

K T Jomon, a goon, was arrested soon after Shan’s body was found outside the police station. He had told the police after dumping the body that Shan was a member of a rival gang and had attempted to flee from the spot. However, police personnel gave chase and arrested Jomon.

Police on Tuesday took into custody four more people, who allegedly had direct involvement in the murder.

Among the four, three had clear criminal background and the fourth person was an auto rickshaw driver who had no such history so far, Kottayamm SP D Shilpa told during a press conference.

Goon's disclosure
During interrogation, Jomon told the police that he had thrashed Shan with the stick of a coffee plant. Shan was also disrobed and beaten up. The torture continued for around three hours and Jomon thrust his fingers into Shan’s eyes. The youth’s eyes were seen swollen with blood during the inquest.

Earlier, on Sunday evening, Jomon and his accomplices had taken Shan captive from near the Armed Police Camp and took him in an auto-rickshaw to various places such as Mannanam, Anathanam, Manarcaud and Pambady. Shan was tortured inside the vehicle. After Shan succumbed to the torture, Jomon and gang drove to near the Police Club. From there, Jomon carried Shan’s body over his shoulders for around 300 metres along the road where the prison, District Police Chief’s Office, Vigilance Office and Civil Station are situated and left it in front of the Kottayam East police station around 4am.

A police officer said that Jomon, a regular offender (goonda), had the habit of injuring rivals’ eyes with his fingers. Shan’s body had more bruises than deep injuries on the head, chest, abdominal area and back.

Mother blames state govt
Shan’s mother O J Thresiamma had filed a missing complaint at Kottayam East police station after midnight on Sunday when her son did not return home. However, on Monday morning, she was shocked to hear that Shan’s body was left by a goon in front of the same police station.

“He was my only son. Why did they do this to me? We have harmed nobody,” Thresiamma asked in anguish, as she leaned on her daughter, Sharon.

“Jomon had asked Shan to come with him to locate some other boy,” said Thresiamma.

“Shan regularly went to a ground near our house to watch football matches. When he did not return by the usual time, I called him. He replied that he would come soon,” she said.

Thresiamma said that Shan and two friends were walking back home from the football ground when Jomon’s gang intercepted them. “Shan’s friends ran away from the spot but my son could not as he has a slight handicap on the leg. While filing a complaint with the police, I had told them that a man named Jomon had kidnapped Shan. Officials there had then said that they would take care of the matter,” said the distraught mother.

“But why didn’t they do anything to save my son? Why is the government allowing these goons to roam freely?” asked Thresiamma.

18 goons booked under KAAPA
The Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act or KAAPA was enacted with the aim of ensuring peace in the state by cracking down on habitual offenders.

A police report is prepared on any person facing trials in at least three criminal cases and submitted to the KAAPA Board. Based on the report, the District Collector can order that the accused be kept in preventive custody. At the same time, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police of the respective range has the power to expel the accused from the district. The term of these punishments could be between six months and one year.

Appeals against these orders could be moved before the state KAAPA Advisory Board, which can let the goons free. While the KAAPA report is prepared by the police, the order is issued by the Revenue Department.

In Kottayam district, action under KAAPA was taken against 18 goons in 2021. Of them, seven still have no entry to the district.