IG to probe torture of Cheranelloor maid

KOCHI: Home minister Ramesh Chennithala on Monday ordered Ernakulam range inspector general of police (IG) M R Ajithkumar to investigate the allegation that officers attached to the Cheranelloor police station tortured Leeba Satheesh (28), a housemaid, in custody.
"The direction came after Cheranelloor residents contacted the home minister and requested him to appoint any officer in IG rank to investigate the matter.I have already started my work," the officer said. The joint action council that is fighting for the rights of Leeba, who has been admitted to the Ernakulam General Hospital following a hairline fracture in spinal cord, had met the home minister in person on Sunday. On the same day, the leader of the opposition, VS Achuthanandan, visited Leeba at the hospital and termed the incident as yet another case of common man becoming an easy target of police atrocities. He also urged the government to launch a high-level investigation into the allegation of custodial torture.
At the same time, Jolly Emblassery, convener of the action council, told the media that they were planning to hold a dharna in front of the Cheranelloor police station, demanding action against police officers who tortured Leeba, mother of a seven-year-old girl. He said the council also received an acknowledgment slip from the national human rights commission for the complaint sent.
Earlier, Samson E S and a woman civil police officer were transferred following an inquiry conducted by Ernakulam north circle inspector N C Santhosh.