The Crime Branch (CB) remand report of the second and third accused, who were arrested on Monday in connection with the custodial torture and death of Kolahalamedu resident and financier Rajkumar, has confirmed that the death was due to pneumonia caused by the contusion on his leg and palm after severe torture during the illegal custody at the Nedumkandam police station from June 12 to 16.
Assistant sub-inspector Rejimon and driver Niyas were arrested after day-long interrogation at the CB’s camp office at Nedumkandam, raising the total number of arrests to four. Earlier, sub-inspector K.A. Sabu and police driver Sajeev Antony, first and the fourth accused, were arrested.
The report clearly stated that Rajkumar was admitted to the Nedumkandam taluk hospital soon after he was taken into custody on June 12, and on June 18, 19 and 20, while he was in the Peerumade sub-jail, he was taken for medical help which was evident that he got severe torture and contusion in police custody, the report said. The crude third degree method on Rajkumar resulted in pneumonia, it said.
The post-mortem report of Rajkumar at the Kottayam Medical College Hospital said the immediate cause of his death was pneumonia and there were 22 wounds, fractures and contusion on his body.
The report said that inquiry officer Dy.SP (CB) Johnson Joseph prepared the report after due consultation with the doctors, who treated Rajkumar, and the medical team, which conducted the post-mortem, in addition to collecting details from the police officers then on duty at the police station.
The remand report explained the method of torture at the police station. The report said the officers who were duty-bound to ensure legal help to an accused had violated this and Rajkumar was denied the right to get the legal help. The report submitted at the First Class Judicial Magistrate Court, Peerumade, said the inquiry into the case was continuing.
The first accused, who was arrested by the CB earlier, was on Tuesday taken for collecting evidence. He was produced before the Peerumade court which gave him to the CB custody till 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the CPI on Tuesday alleged that the government was deviating from the police policy of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). CPI district secretary K.K. Sivaraman, while inaugurating a Nedumkandam police station march, said the former District Superintendent of Police was used against the CPI and he was given promotion, though his involvement in the torture case was revealed.
