53-yr-old dies in police custody in Kerala; cop suspended, probe on

THE VICTIM’S AUTOPSY REPORT SAID THAT HE DIED OF A CARDIAC ARREST, OFFICIALS FAMILIAR WITH THE MATTER SAID

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 53-year-old man, who was detained during a vehicle inspection on Saturday night, has allegedly died in police custody in Kerala’s Ernakulam district, officials familiar with the matter said on Sunday. A sub-inspector has been suspended in connection with the incident and the government has ordered a crime branch inquiry, said a senior police official.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening when the victim, P Manoharan, was asked to stop his motorbike by a squad from the Hill Palace police station during routine vehicle checking. As he did not stop, the squad chased him down and asked him why he did not stop.

Police said he was taken to the station after they failed to get a proper explanation from him, and later he collapsed at the station and died on the way to the hospital. Manoharan’s post-mortem examination report said that he died of a cardiac arrest, officials familiar with the matter said.

Local residents, however, alleged that Manoharan was taken into custody for not stopping his scooter after the police signalled him to do so. He stopped his vehicle a little farther and policemen ran after him and slapped him after he removed his helmet. Later, he was forcibly taken to the police station, they said. When relatives reached the station, they were told he was admitted to a hospital after he collapsed.

“It was a cold-blooded murder. He was tortured to death. He did not have any serious medical issues. Though he said he did not see policemen initially and stopped later when they ran behind his scooter, they were not willing to believe it,” one of his relatives said.

The incident triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. “He was tortured to death. The CM, who is holding the home portfolio, may say it is another isolated incident,” said Congress leader V D Satheesan after visiting Manoharan’s house.