Man 'thrashed' by police after road accident in Kerala

Kochi: In yet another incident of police apathy in Kerala, a 38-year-old man was allegedly thrashed by a group of police men following a minor accident in Edathala near Aluva, police said today. While relatives of Usman allege that he was taken to Edathala police station after the incident yesterday and ‘physically tortured’ in custody, the police have denied the charges.

The incident occurred when the police personnel, in mufti dress, were reportedly returning to the police station in a car, after nabbing an accused in a POCSO case, they said. Usman was allegedly attacked by the police personnel when he protested after his motor bike was hit by their car near a government school in Edathala.

An altercation occurred following the incident and Usman was forcefully taken to the Edathala police station in their car. Usman, who suffered a broken cheek bone in the attack, has been admitted to a private hospital near here, police said.

Usman’s relatives alleged that he was brutally tortured in the custody too. He was taken to hospital after the people in large number reached the police station last evening protesting against the incident. Four personnel have been booked in connection with the incident, they said.

They have been charged under IPC Section 325 (Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt). The incident occurred at a time when the police was facing allegations of laxity in its investigation in various cases relating to Dalits and women.

The opposition has alleged that the “laxity and lapse” on the part of the local police was the reason for the alleged incident of honour killing of a Dalit Christian man in Kottayam last month. On April 9, a 26-year-old man had died of alleged torture in police custody in nearby Varappuzha.