A suspect who allegedly attempted suicide inside the Thumba police station on Tuesday died at the Government Medical College Hospital here early Thursday, sparking protests and probes.
Shaji Elias, 42, of Poundukadavu, near Kulathoor, was summoned to the police station along with his friend Noushad after their accomplice Rajamony lodged a complaint on February 18 accusing the duo of stealing his gold chain when he dozed off after a booze session on February 7. Both Shaji and Noushad reportedly turned up at the police station around 6 p.m. on Sunday and were asked to wait.
According to police sources, the sub-inspector who summoned them ‘got busy’ on Monday as well since he had to go to the High Court and the two had to remain in the police station that day.
On Tuesday morning, after nearly 39 hours of custody, both asked permission to go to the bathroom, and while Noushad returned, Shaji did not. Suspicious policemen broke open the door and found Shaji attempting suicide by hanging himself with his dhoti. They rushed him to the hospital, where he passed away around 2 a.m. on Thursday.
The death sparked protests, with his family accusing the police of torturing him. The protests have prompted a number of probes, with Jawahar Janardh, Assistant Commissioner, Shanghumughom, and Sheen Tharayil, Circle Inspector, Medical College, conducting separate investigations into the incident. The government has also ordered a probe by Manoj Abraham, Inspector General of Police (Thiruvananthapuram Range).
Police seek probe
Earlier in the day, the police requested an inquiry, as per Section 176 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, by a magistrate into the incident, apart from asking for a team of doctors to conduct the autopsy since there were allegations of custodial torture.
The inquiry and the autopsy, which took nearly three hours, saw relatives and the public who had gathered outside the hospital morgue getting restive.
Later, when they were handed over the body around 5.45 p.m., an attempt was made to stage a protest in front of the Thumba police station.
The police, however, blocked this, and after assurances of a proper investigation and efforts for compensation to the family from Mr. Tharayil and M.A. Vahid, MLA, the body was taken to Shaji’s residence by 7 p.m.
