The Kunnamkulam custodial torture case has taken a new turn with the victim, Youth Congress Chovannur mandalam president V.S. Sujith, filing a private complaint before the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Kunnamkulam, demanding that police driver Suhair also be arraigned as an accused.
Though Suhair had earlier been let off the case citing his absence in CCTV footage, Mr. Sujith has maintained in his testimony that it was Suhair who rained more than 30 brutal blows on his legs. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on September 11, after deciding to re-examine the available footage.
The complaint seeks to include Suhair as the fifth accused and also invoke harsher charges against the police officers, pointing out that Mr. Sujith’s eardrum was ruptured in the assault. Mr. Sujith has also indicated his plans to move another petition to press for additional sections.
Earlier, police officers, including CPOs Sandeep, Shashidharan, K.J. Sajeevan, and sub-inspector Nuhman, had been suspended in connection with the incident following a report submitted by DIG Harishankar.
Meanwhile, Congress workers led by Chelakkara block committee took out a protest march to Pazhayannur gram panchayat office, where Suhair iscurrently working as village extension officer.
