Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Kerala Assembly and CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has demanded a judicial investigation into allegations that convicts in the T.P. Chandrasekharan murder case have been tortured by officials at the Viyyur Central Jail here.
Mr. Balakrishnan put forward the demand after calling on the convicts on Saturday.
Nine of the 12 convicted in the case were on Thursday shifted from the Kannur Central Jail to the Viyyur Central Jail.
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‘‘No one has given jail officials the right to torture the convicts. Even Nathuram Godse, who murdered Mahatma Gandhi, did not face such cruelty in jail. Many of the convicts have sustained ear, eye, and leg injuries. Without the knowledge of the higher-ups, the torture would not have happened. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala should reveal who these higher-ups are,’’ he said.
He alleged that Mr. Chennithala was turning jails into torture chambers.
‘‘Warders have no right or power to torture prisoners. Action should be taken against errant warders,’’ he said.
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