Outrage as police beat up bereaved parents in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a move that triggered widespread criticism, the Kerala police on Wednesday arrested a couple outside the state police headquarters when they came to stage a hunger strike.

An engineering student, Jishnu Prannoy, was found hanging in his college, three months ago. His parents — mother Mahija and father P Ashokan — alleged their son was murdered by college authorities after he questioned some of their actions and that police were dragging their feet in the investigation.

The family, from Kozhikode in north Kerala, arrived here to inquire about the inordinate delay in the probe and said they would stage a dharna outside police headquarters if they weren’t given a satisfactory reply. As soon as they arrived outside the DGP’s office, an argument ensued and all relatives were forcibly removed. In the melee, Mahija reportedly received blows and collapsed.

The opposition Congress and BJP have called a shutdown in the state on Thursday to protest the action, but since the Malappuram bypoll is around the corner, the district has been exempted.

When the issue triggered condemnation, the police justified their action, saying the parents were not arrested but only removed from the spot. Later, DGP Ramon Srivastava called on the injured mother in hospital and asked the southern range IG to immediately submit a report.

“It is an inhuman attitude. The poor mother who was seeking justice was attacked by police without any reason,” said opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.

“The latest incident reminds us of Emergency days,” said BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan.