Custodial murder: 2 policemen get death penalty; 3 officers jailed

Agencies
July 25, 2018

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 25: In a rare judgment, a special court of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram today awarded death penalty to two policemen in connection with the custodial death of a youth in 2005.

The court had on Tuesday (July 24) found the two personnel – K Jithakumar and S V Sreekumar, both civil police officers at the time of the incident and first and second accused in the case – guilty of custodial torture that led to the death of Udayakumar (27) at the Fort Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram. They were also directed to pay a penalty of Rs 2 lakh each.

CBI special judge J Nasser awarded three-year jail terms each to three other officers - T K Haridas (then assistant commissioner), E K Sabu (then circle inspector) and Ajith Kumar (then sub-inspector) - found guilty of fudging documents and destroying evidence in a cover-up attempt. K V Soman, then additional SI and third accused in the case, died during the trial.

A police team took into custody Udayakumar and his friend Suresh Kumar from the Sreekanteswaram Park in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27, 2005, for suspected theft. After ascertaining that Udayakumar was in possession of Rs 4,020, the policemen subjected him to third-degree treatment at the station to extract a confession, including the use of an iron pipe on his body, inflicting severe injuries that led to his death. The officers charged with conspiracy had registered a false case against Udayakumar after his death.

Suresh was among the witnesses who turned hostile after the trial in the case commenced.

J Prabhavathi, Udayakumar’s aged mother who fought the 13-year-long legal battle, called it a landmark judgement and said it was a verdict she was expecting. “No son should have to suffer like my son did,” she told reporters.

Comments

Well Wisher
 - 
Wednesday, 25 Jul 2018

Wow!!!

 

Took too long, yet justice prevailed. We also need such brave judge in DK too.

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News Network
July 12,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 12: Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday.

He was suffering from fever since the last few days and today his swab results came out positive.

He is currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in the city and his condition is stated to be stable.

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Agencies
January 1,2020

Kanpur, Jan 1: In a seemingly bizarre development, the IIT in Kanpur has set up a panel to decide whether the poem "Hum dekhenge lazim hai ki hum bhi dekhenge", penned by Faiz Ahmad Faiz, is anti-Hindu.

The panel has been set up in response to complaints filed by a faculty member who claimed that the students, during a protest, sang this poem which was anti-Hindu.

The poem reads thus -- "Lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge. Jab arz-e-Khuda ke kaabe se. Sab bhut uthwaye jayenge, Hum ahl-e-safa mardood-e-harm. Masnad pe bithaye jayenge. Sab taaj uchale jaenge. Sab takht giraye jayenge. Bas naam rahega Allah ka. Hum dekhenge."

It was the last line that has turned into a bone of contention. Translated into English, it means, 'When thrones will vanish, only Allah's name will remain' -- implying the misleading translation by the professor.

The poem had been written by Faiz in reference to military dictator Zia-ul-Haq in 1979 and was against the military rule in Pakistan. Faiz had left leanings and was an atheist. He was known for his revolutionary writings that kept him in jail for several years.

It may be recalled that the IIT-Kanpur students had taken out a peaceful march on the campus on December 17 in support of the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and during the march, the students sang the Faiz poem.

According to IIT Deputy director Manindra Agarwal: "In the video, the students are seen reciting the Faiz poem which can also be perceived as being anti-Hindu.

The IIT faculty member, in his complaint, has alleged that the students made anti-India and communal statements during their demonstration in solidarity with the Jamia students.

The complaint was based on two lines of the poem, which have obviously been misinterpreted -- "When all idols will be removed, only Allah's name will remain."

The faculty member has stated that "organisers and masterminds must be identified and expelled immediately."

Fifteen other students have also signed the complaint filed by the professor against the protesting students.

Meanwhile, IIT students have said that the faculty member who lodged the complaint has been banned on a social networking site for posting communal content.

In an article published on the IIT-Kanpur student media portal, the students clarified what exactly happened on the day of protest and how their chant was given a 'communal and misleading' turn. They stated that they had recited a few lines of the Faiz poem in reference to the police crackdown on the Jamia students.

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News Network
April 22,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 22: A team of officials raided the Big Bags International Pvt Ltd premises here on Tuesday following the apprehensions expressed by locals that the company has violated lockdown rules by resuming operations on April 20.

On Monday several workers of the firm from Kerala, Tumakuru and Bengaluru were reported to be at the premises to resume operations.

The raiding team asked the management to temporarily shut down operations and asked the workers to leave the place.

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