SHRC orders monitoring by magistrate in custodial death probe

Kottayam: Kerala State Human Rights Commission Tuesday ordered a magistrate to monitor the ongoing crime branch probe into the custodial death of a 40-year-old man.

Justice J B Koshy, Chairman of the Kerala Human Rights Commission, noted that police in Marangattupilly station are facing investigation in the incident and in such a situation it was better if a magistrate monitored the probe.

He was hearing a petition filed by Leela, mother of Siby, died on July 11 following severe head injuries after he was taken into custody in a case related to a quarrel with his neighbour.

Siby was brought to the Medical College hospital here on June 30 by police with severe head injuries and died without responding to treatment.

Relatives of the victim have alleged that brutal torture by police in custody at a local station near Pala on the night of June 29 caused the death.

Kerala government has already ordered a judicial probe into the death.