The State police on Thursday said the wound certificate of D. Jayaprasad belied the Opposition’s claim that law enforcers had deliberately caused blunt force injuries to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] activist’s genitals during a Left Democratic Front-sponsored protest against Chief Minister Oommen Chandy outside the venue of a public function attended by him at Anyara here on Wednesday.
The certificate issued by medical officer, Government Medical College Hospital, stated that Jayaprasad, a Gulf returnee and secretary of the CPI(M)’s Thamarakulam branch, was brought to the hospital by his wife Sarita at 1.30 p.m.
Jayaprasad told the doctor that he was “assaulted by policemen on the chest at Anayara around 1.15 p.m.” The doctor noted that Jayaprasad was conscious and oriented at the time of his admission. There were no vomiting, seizures, or bleeding from the ear, nose, or tongue.
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He complained of chest pain. In his report, the doctor noted abrasions and contusions on Jayaprasad’s chest and abdominal wall and profuse tenderness of the abdomen. Jayaprasad had difficulty in lifting his right upper limb. The doctor said the cause of injury could be police assault as alleged by the patient.
A police investigator said Jayaprasad had never complained to the doctor about any injury on his private parts at the time of admission or later. Nor did the medical officer notice or record any such injury during the preliminary and subsequent physical examinations of the patient. The medical officer had only recommended that an orthodontist see Mr. Jayaprasad.
The police view was that their action on Wednesday was legitimate and within the bounds of law. City Police Commissioner P. Vijayan said the police had not resorted to any wanton cruelty against the CPI(M) activist as alleged in public domain.
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Enquiry report
A city special branch enquiry report into the incident said Mr. Jayaprasad was wearing a black shirt and had attempted to enter the venue. He took off his shirt, and using it as a flag, had tried to rush towards the podium where the Chief Minister was seated.
His action caught the policemen deployed at the entrance of the venue by surprise. They used force to stop him. Since he was without a shirt and sweating, the law enforcers were forced to tackle him by trying to grip the belt that secured his trousers.
One officer, identified as C. Jayaprasad, grade sub inspector, Poonthura police station, assaulted him and also stomped on his chest. (The police have suspended him from service pending detailed enquiry). The report ruled out the allegation that the policemen had wantonly brutalised Jayaprasad in public.
The State Human Rights Commission has registered a case in connection with the incident. Its chairman J.B. Koshy has sought a report from the State Police Chief regarding the matter.
He has given the police three weeks’ time to file their version of events. The Commission should be told about the steps taken by the government, including departmental action and registration of a criminal case, if any, against the police officer concerned. He passed the order on the basis of a complaint filed by DYFI State office-bearers M. Swaraj and T.V. Rajesh.