The Congress on Thursday intensified its demand for action against police officers allegedly involved in the custodial torture of a Youth Congress leader in Thrissur district two years ago.

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan wrote to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, urging the dismissal of the accused officials from service. He cited CCTV footage that showed Youth Congress Chovannur mandalam president V S Sujith being brutally assaulted inside Kunnamkulam police station in 2023, leaving him with serious injuries, including loss of hearing.

Satheesan alleged that despite Supreme Court rulings against custodial torture, senior officers tried to shield those involved by omitting key names from the charge sheet and concealing reports. “The incident came to light only after the footage was obtained through the Right to Information Act,” he said.

Earlier in the day, senior Congress leaders, including KPCC president Sunny Joseph, Chalakudy MP Benny Behnan, and T N Prathapan, met Sujith. Joseph demanded the immediate dismissal of the policemen and registration of a criminal case. “Sujith is not alone. Congress and the people of Kerala, who want proper law and order, are with him. The Chief Minister and the Home Department are siding with the accused,” he said.

Sujith claimed the policemen even offered him ₹20 lakh to settle the case. He said the CCTV footage was released only after a prolonged legal battle under the RTI Act and that the officials remained in service despite facing only minor charges.

Meanwhile, Youth Congress workers in Malappuram staged a protest march to the residence of Sub-Inspector Nuhman, one of the accused. The march turned violent when protesters tried to scale police barricades, prompting a lathi charge that left several injured. Nuhman was not at home and is currently staying in the police quarters at Thrissur.

Satheesan warned of statewide protests if the accused were not punished. He also dismissed the Thrissur DIG’s claim that disciplinary action had already been taken. “Those measures were only to protect the accused. The police are being controlled by a group in the Chief Minister’s office, and the DIG should not act as their spokesperson,” he said.