Shashi Tharoor, the Congress MP for Thiruvananthapuram, has described the alleged custodial violence against Youth Congress leader VS Sujith as “deeply disturbing.” The incident, which occurred two years ago, has resurfaced after CCTV footage of the assault emerged.
Taking to X on Friday, Tharoor said that assaulting a citizen for questioning police threats is not only unlawful but also "inhuman". He added that officers who “violate the very principles of justice and dignity, have no place in the police force,” and that the officers in question had "forfeited the moral right to continue in service." Tharoor demanded action from the chief minister and the home department, stating that “silence cannot be the shield for such brutality”.
The Congress party has intensified its demand for action since Thursday. VD Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, sent a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan urging him to dismiss the officers involved from service. The CCTV footage, which is being shared by party leaders, shows Sujith, the Youth Congress Chovannur mandalam president, being repeatedly slapped and punched while being escorted into the police station.
In his letter, Satheesan alleged that despite Supreme Court rulings against custodial torture, senior officers attempted to protect those involved by omitting key names from the chargesheet and concealing reports. “The incident came to light only after the footage was obtained through the Right to Information Act,” he said, demanding that the officers be dismissed and that criminal action be taken against them.
On Thursday, senior Congress leaders, including KPCC president Sunny Joseph, Chalakudy MP Benny Behnan, and TN Prathapan, met with Sujith, who alleged that the police officers had offered him ₹20 lakh to settle the case. “The CCTV footage was obtained only after a prolonged legal battle under the Right to Information Act. There were attempts to suppress the case, and only minor offences were charged. These officials are still in service, and no strict action has been taken against them," a news agency quoted Sujith.
Meanwhile, Youth Congress workers in Malappuram carried out a protest march to the residence of sub-inspector Nuhman, one of the accused. The march turned violent when protesters attempted to cross barricades, resulting in a police baton charge that left several people injured. According to reports, Nuhman was not at his residence and is currently staying at the police quarters in Thrissur.
Also read: Tharoor's Hindi punchline on X takes Internet by storm
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