Uproar over Kerala custodial death

The state human rights commission has suo motu registered a case. Hundreds of local people laid a siege to the police station.

According to police, Manoharan was taken into custody on Saturday night by a team of policemen during a routine on road vehicle inspection. Manoharan, who is running a motor spare parts shop, was returning home when police flagged down his two-wheeler. Police got provoked after he stopped a little away from the inspecting team and the SI allegedly slapped him.

Eyewitnesses told the media that Manoharan was subjected to a breathalyser test, and it was revealed that he was not driving under the influence of alcohol.

Later in the night, Manoharan collapsed in the police station and died. The post-mortem report prima facie indicated that he had a cardiac arrest.

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan said that Manoharan was subjected to torture at the police station. “Who has given police the authority to slap a person. Police is controlled by CPI(M) local leaders and never before had the state witnessed such a lawlessness in police,’’ he said.

BJP state president K Surendran said Vijayan should step down as home minister.