The new decision is based on a report by Kerala Police chief Lokanath Behera which justified George’s actions. Sreejith died while he was in custody of the Rural Tiger Force, a squad formed by George during his tenure as Ernakulam Rural SP on April 7, 2018.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala government has decided not to take action against DIG AV George in connection with the custodial death of Sreejith of Varappuzha. A year ago, 23-year-old Varappuzha native Sreejith was killed while he was in police custody.
The new decision is based on a report by State Police Chief Lokanath Behera which justified George’s actions. Sreejith died while he was in custody of the Rural Tiger Force, a squad formed by George during his tenure as Ernakulam Rural SP on April 7, 2018. According to sources, brutal torture by police officers resulted in Sreejith’s death.
The DGP in his report has stated that the policemen’s actions were legal. George was suspended after the incident only to be reinstated few weeks later.
Police arrested Sreejith on April 7, 2018, over suspected involvement in a case of abetting the suicide of 54-year old KM Vasudevan. Vasudevan hanged himself after a gang broke into his house and assaulted him.
Police confused Sreejith with another person who goes by the same name and took the wrong person into custody. Following his arrest, Sreejith was taken to a private hospital after he suffered severe injuries to his abdomen. He passed away on April 9.
Sreejith was married and a father of one. In last May, the state government gave his wife Akhila a job in the North Paravur taluk office and provided her with compensation of Rs 10 lakh.
Interestingly, Vasudevan's son had spoken about Sreejith’s innocence in the case. Vasudevan’s son also told media that Sreejith had been mistaken for someone else by police and that it was not him who had threatened his father.
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