Torture haunts fort police station again

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It seems the Fort Police Station is haunted by the ghost of Udayakumar, the victim of alleged custodial torture by the police personnel at the station which led to his death a few years ago. Arrested persons levelling allegations of custodial torture at Fort station has become a recurring phenomenon since then.   Barely a month after a 41-year-old man, Hussain, alleged that he was arrested and kept in custody for a month without informing his family, news of another similar allegation has hit the station again. This time, a 32-year-old youth is in the victim’s place. The victim, Suraj of Thuruvickal, near Medical College, who was taken into custody by the Fort police, was allegedly tortured on Friday afternoon.   According to sources, one of the policemen had allegedly used a pen to prick his body, leaving long scars, after he was taken into custody. Following the attack, a seriously injured Suraj was admitted to the General Hospital here. However, on Sunday, both the parties arrived at a compromise, following which the police let Suraj free without registering a case. In return, Suraj informed the police that he had no complaints against them.   However, senior police officers are miffed over the media reports about the alleged custodial torture. According to them, the accused, who was fully drunk, had injured himself after snatching a pen from one of the policemen just before he was taken to the hospital for conducting an alcohol test.  Circle Inspector of Police Anil Kumar said that Suraj was arrested after they received information that he was creating nuisance in the East Fort area, especially to women who were waiting for a bus.  ‘’It might be because of the fact that the particular station has a dark past relating to custodial torture that the accused tend to raise such allegations. The media also take up the issue for the same reason,’’ said Anil Kumar, referring to the episode of Udayakumar’s alleged custodial death in the station, into which the CBI is conducting a probe. Meanwhile, Hussain, who was kept under custody by the police allegedly denying his basic right to inform his advocate and family, has also filed a petition against them before the court.