Four more police officers suspended

KOCHI: Four more police officers were suspended in the Leeba custodial torture case. The crime branch will take over the investigation on Monday. Leeba, who was working as a domestic help in a doctor's house in Cheranelloor, was arrested by the police on August 23 for allegedly stealing gold jewellery.
Leeba then accused the police of assaulting her in custody. Following an outcry, police suspended three officers.Those suspended on Saturday were women civil police officers Siju, Sandhya and Rekha and ASI Kuriakose - all attached to the Cheranelloor police station.
IG Ernakulam (range) M R Ajith Kumar said, "I had directed the assistant commissioner (AC) of the crime detachment cell to investigate Leeba's allegation. The officer submitted a primary investigation report on Saturday stating that all the suspended officers were present at the station on the day of the incident. The officer recommended a detailed investigation to ascertain whether she was assaulted in custody and the involvement of suspended officers."
In the report, the officer has recommended registering a criminal case against the officers following which a case was registered at the Cheranelloor police station on Saturday, the IG said.
Leeba was taken into custody on by the then Cheranallur SI and a lady police around 10 am on August 23 and according to her, she underwent physical and mental torture at station till she was produced before a magistrate on Sunday evening. Sheeba was admitted to the general hospital on August 29 after getting bail and a hairline fracture on spinal cord and bruises all over her body was detected.
Meanwhile, the city witnessed various protest programme in many pockets by women activists and action council formed demanding justice for Leeba.