By Express News Service

KOLLAM: Two Dalit men have alleged police brutality, saying that they were subjected to third-degree torture at two police stations over a theft case.

The men, who were undergoing treatment at the Kollam District Hospital, have alleged that they were tortured for at least about five days at Kollam West and Anchalummoodu Police Stations.

According to the victims, Rajeev (31) and Shibu (40) of Thrikkaruva, they were taken into custody last Sunday by the police and were released only on Friday.

The police termed the charges as baseless and said the youths were only taken for questioning.

When the incident became a matter of discussion in the media, Kollam City Police Commissioner S Satheesh Bino entrusted Kollam ACP George Koshy with the task of inquiring into the matter.

“For the past five days, we were being subjected to various torturing methods at the two police stations. We were taken into custody by some policemen in mufti last Sunday.

They took me from the hotel where I work as a daily wage worker without citing any reason. After reaching the Anchalummoodu Station, they said that I had been taken into custody in relation to a complaint of theft. Then some policemen asked me to undress and they resorted to beating me. In the midst of the beating, they inquired about Shibu, who is my relative. After some time they brought Shibu too into the cell and repeated the torture,” Rajeev said.

The men alleged that due to the torture, they had suffered injuries in their private parts and were also experiencing severe pain in their limbs.

According to Rajeev, when they were held in custody, they were denied legal assistance and the permission to see their family members. “When our family arrived at the station, the police threatened them and turned them back. After five days, they released us without filing any case. We still don’t know why we were taken into custody and tortured,” Rajeev adds.

The victims said that they would cite the harrowing experience at the two police stations, to submit a complaint with the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, Police Complaints Authority, Chief Minister and Kerala Police Chief.