The public protest against the alleged custodial torture of a woman has brought into focus the violence allegedly inflicted by the police on accused persons. While the case of Leeba of Cheranallore was taken up by public representatives and human rights organisations, many other cases of custodial violence vanish without a trace.
As per the National Crime Records Bureau statistics, over 3,000 complaints were registered against police personnel in 2013 in Kerala. Only 66 of these were sent up for trials or chargesheeted. The inquiry is most often conducted by the police and victims hardly ever receive any monetary compensation.
Justice K. Narayana Kurup, chairman of the State Police Complaints Authority, said a victim of custodial torture could follow one of several steps to obtain justice. “A victim of a police act of misconduct can approach the State Police Complaints Authority. We will issue a notice to the officer, seek an explanation, conduct a probe, and pass an order,” he said. The victim could also move the courts for criminal prosecution or file a civil suit for damages.
The district had seen another case of custodial violence recently. A police officer from Vadakkekkara police station was suspended after an inquiry by the Rural police found that he tortured a migrant worker from Assam who was arrested on charge of theft. The man named Rathul Chathia had suffered from a ruptured spleen after he was given the third degree by the officer on July 22, just a month before Leeba was allegedly tortured. The State Police Complaints Authority had registered a suo moto complaint and probed the matter to ensure that justice was served in Chathia’s case.
In another less noted incident, police officers allegedly assaulted a migrant truck driver near Vyttila here. A group of people quickly gathered around to help the man. But a complaint was never lodged.
The Kerala Police Act lays down strict guidelines for ways in which the police should handle the public. The Supreme Court has also prescribed specific steps to be taken while making an arrest.
Officials said that several complaints were being filed against police officers. Leeba’s case, however, came to light only after panchayat officials and the public took up her issue and supported her strongly.
“Keeping aside the issue of who stole the gold, if it was actually stolen, it is inhuman for the police to treat a person like this. Such draconian methods should have been done away a long time ago,” said Cheranalloor panchayat member Jolly Emblassery.