Kerala man dies after alleged custodial assault; family accuses police of torture

Kollam: A 29-year-old man from Kerala's Kollam district died while undergoing treatment after allegedly being subjected to custodial torture, with his family accusing police personnel of brutally assaulting him during detention and causing injuries that they claim led to his death.

Siyad, a private bus driver from Kundara, died on Saturday at the Government Medical College Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram after suffering fractured ribs and a severe lung infection. His family alleged that the injuries were inflicted while he was in police custody. The District Crime Branch is investigating the case, Maktoob Media reported.

Police had detained Siyad on the night of June 16 after a complaint was lodged about a missing 13-year-old boy. He was released the following morning after the child returned home.

The complainant whose missing-person report led to Siyad's detention alleged that Civil Police Officer Sreejith began assaulting him soon after he was made to board the police vehicle. She claimed she witnessed the alleged assault from inside the jeep and said Siyad cried out in pain while he was being beaten.

Siyad's parents, Badrudeen and Arifa Beevi, said that their son later told them he had been brutally assaulted inside the police vehicle after being mistaken for someone else.

According to the family, Siyad had been in good health before the incident but was unable to even drink water for several days after his release. They said doctors at Kollam District Hospital detected fractured ribs through an X-ray taken after he complained of chest pain. They further alleged that the injuries resulted in a serious lung infection, following which he was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital, where he later died while on ventilator support.

Describing Siyad as the family's sole breadwinner with no criminal record, his relatives demanded the dismissal and prosecution of the police personnel allegedly involved. They also said they would submit complaints to the Kerala Chief Minister and the Director General of Police seeking a comprehensive investigation.

The alleged custodial death is being investigated by the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the District Crime Branch. Kerala Police have denied allegations that Siyad was assaulted in custody.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) staged a protest outside the Kundara police station, demanding action against the officers accused in the case.

Former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called for immediate and stringent action against those responsible, saying the government must ensure that all those involved are brought before the law at the earliest.