Deb visits home of man killed in custody

26-year-old’s death in Kerala last month triggered condemnation by Congress and BJP

Tripura Chief Minister and BJP leader Biplab Kumar Deb yesterday visited the residence of S.R. Sreejith who allegedly died in police custody last month, and announced his government’s compensation of Rs500,000 (Dh26,876) to the family. The death of the 26-year old allegedly due to custodial torture in Varappuzha police station last month had triggered widespread condemnation by the opposition including the Congress and BJP in Kerala.

The state BJP had staged a protest in Varappuzha, claiming Sreejith was a party worker. Deb, who reached Sreejith’s residence yesterday morning accompanied by state BJP leaders, consoled the family and said financial aid of Rs500,000, on behalf of the Tripura government, would be given to his family.

The cheque of Rs500,000 to be sent to the BJP state unit would be handed over to Sreejith’s family by party leaders, he said.

Vijayan flayed

Talking to reporters, Deb, who is in the state to campaign for the BJP candidate in Chengannur Assembly bypoll, criticised Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for not visiting the family of Sreejith so far.

“You are the chief minister of a state, not a party. You should visit the family. I request Vijayan-ji to visit the family and meet his kin,” he said.

Describing as brutal the death of Sreejith in police custody, he alleged police was given direction by the ruling party leaders to pick up the youth and torture him.