Custodial torture: Youth Congress protest march to Palakkad SP Office ends up in violence

Palakkad: The Youth Congress has intensified its protest against the police over the alleged custodial torture of its Chovannur mandalam president Sujith VS in Kunnamkulam.
On Monday, the protest march to the Palakkad district SP's office, staged by the Congress's youth wing, triggered violence after the workers clashed with the cops.

Police deployed water cannons to disperse the protesters as they attempted to storm the SP's office. The situation escalated when activists forcefully removed the barricades and tried to enter the premises. According to reports, more Youth Congress members are arriving at the spot to join the agitation.

Three activists were detained for allegedly dismantling the barricades. Despite police using water cannons three times, protesters refused to retreat and continued their agitation.

Custodial torture of Sujith made headlines after CCTV footage of the incident came out. Sujith was taken into custody on April 5, 2023, after he allegedly questioned police officers who threatened his friends on the roadside. Later, he was allegedly tortured at the Kunnamkulam police station. The CCTV footage was released following an RTI application filed by Sujith.

According to the case registered in the Kunnamkulam First Class Judicial Magistrate Court, Sujith suffered hearing loss following custodial violence by Sub-Inspector Nuhman and CPOs Sashindran, Sandeep, and Sajeevan. The home department suspended the four from service after the incident triggered a political row.