The BRICS TimesThe incident involving Kerala Youth Congress leader VS Sujith, which occurred two years ago, has now resurfaced after shocking CCTV visuals of the alleged police assault became public.
Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, on Friday expressed strong condemnation over the alleged custodial assault on Youth Congress leader VS Sujith by officers of the Kunnamkulam Police. Though the incident dates back two years, it has drawn widespread outrage in Kerala after CCTV visuals of the alleged assault recently came to light.
Calling the visuals “deeply disturbing,” Tharoor said that physically attacking a citizen for merely questioning police intimidation cannot be justified under any circumstances. He stressed that such conduct is not only unlawful but also “inhuman.” In a statement on X, he remarked, “Such officers, who violate the very principles of justice and dignity, have no place in the police force,” adding that they have “forfeited the moral right to continue in service.” The senior Congress leader further urged the chief minister and the home department to take immediate and decisive action, warning that “silence cannot be the shield for such brutality.”
The controversy has gained momentum since Thursday, with the Congress intensifying its demand for accountability. Leader of the opposition in the state assembly, VD Satheesan, addressed a letter to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, pressing for the dismissal of the officers allegedly involved in the case.
The CCTV footage that triggered the uproar, surfaced on Wednesday. It purportedly shows Chovannur mandalam Youth Congress president VS Sujith being escorted into the police station from a vehicle and then repeatedly slapped and punched by the officers.
In his letter, Satheesan highlighted that despite repeated Supreme Court rulings against custodial torture, senior police officials allegedly attempted to shield the accused by deliberately omitting key names from the charge sheet and concealing critical reports. He asserted, “The incident came to light only after the footage was obtained through the Right to Information Act,” demanding that the officers face dismissal along with criminal proceedings.
Meanwhile, several senior Congress leaders, including KPCC president Sunny Joseph, Chalakudy MP Benny Behnan, and TN Prathapan, visited Sujith on Thursday. Sujith alleged that the accused officers had even approached him with a ₹20 lakh settlement offer to suppress the matter. Quoted by PTI, he said, “The CCTV footage was obtained only after a prolonged legal battle under the Right to Information Act. There were attempts to suppress the case, and only minor offences were charged. These officials are still in service, and no strict action has been taken against them.”
Protests have also erupted on the ground. In Malappuram, Youth Congress workers staged a march to the residence of sub-inspector Nuhman, one of the accused officers. The demonstration escalated after protesters tried to breach barricades placed by the police, leading to a lathi charge that left several people injured. According to PTI, Nuhman was not present at his residence during the protest and is currently residing at the police quarters in Thrissur.
