Kerala police reinstates 7 cops linked with youth's custodial death

Kerala police Wednesday reinstated seven personnel suspended in connection with the alleged custodial death of a 26-year-old man here in April this year, triggering a protest by the victim's mother. Ernakulam Range IG Vijay Sakhare issued the order, reinstating the seven police personnel, official sources said. The victim's mother Wednesday came out against the order, saying that reinstatement of the officials facing a probe into the incident amounted to denial of justice.

She told reporters here that she would move court, challenging the decision. Seven officials, including Circle Inspector Chrispin Sam and Sub-Inspector Deepak had been suspended, pending investigation, in connection with the custodial death of S R Sreejith at nearby Varapuzha on April 9. The decision to reinstate them was taken, based on the report by the Inspector General (Crime Branch), who investigated the case, the sources said.

The report said the probe into the case was almost complete and their reinstatement would not hamper the investigation process in any manner. Sreejith, who was taken into custody in April in connection with the death of a person, had died in a private hospital.

His relatives had alleged that he died due to custodial torture Police had rejected the charge and said that he was suspected to have suffered injuries during a clash before he was taken into custody. Facing flak from the opposition, the Kerala government had constituted a Special Investigation Team, headed by IGP S Sreejith, to probe the death.

On July 9 the Kerala High Court had turned down a plea from Sreejith's wife for a CBI probe into the case, expressing satisfaction over the investigation by the state police in it. The court had noted that the probe was on the right track and noted that of nine policemen were arrested and put on trial for their alleged roles in the case.

(With inputs from agencies.)