Kerala Youth Cong leader uses RTI to prove torture by Kerala police; prevails
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An alleged case of police brutality from 2023 has resurfaced in Kerala, sparking widespread outrage after Youth Congress leader V. S. Sujith from Thrissur obtained video “evidence” through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
According to Sujith, the incident took place on April 5, 2023, at the Kunnamkulam Police Station under the Thrissur city police limits. CCTV footage of the alleged assault was released after the State Information Commission passed a favourable order.
Sujith claimed that on the day of the incident, a police team was intimidating a group of youngsters standing by the roadside. When he intervened, he alleged that the officers became agitated and questioned his authority to confront them. He further stated that the police dragged him by his shirt collar, forced him into their jeep, and took him to the station.
The CCTV footage obtained by Sujith reportedly shows him without a shirt while being taken into the police station. It also allegedly captures four policemen surrounding him and assaulting him as he groans in pain.
Sujith alleged that after being taken into custody, he was moved to a room without surveillance cameras, where he was further assaulted by the police.
He claimed that the torture left him with chronic hearing problems, which were later confirmed through a medical examination conducted on the court’s directive. While the police had initially booked him for alleged drunken misconduct in public, Sujith said the medical report proved he was not intoxicated, leading to his release on bail.
Following the incident, Sujith approached senior police officials seeking action against the four officers involved, including an inspector. However, when no action was taken, he filed a criminal miscellaneous petition in a local court against the accused policemen. The petition remains pending.
In the meantime, Sujith applied for CCTV footage from the day of the incident under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. After the police rejected his request, he appealed to the State Information Commission, which eventually ruled in his favour and ordered the footage to be released.
