Kerala - People's watch

FF Code : KEL/PTS/POL-432/MAY 2008
Victim(s) : Lalitha
Perpetrator(s) : Police
Location : Athumbumkulam
Date of incident : 19/05/2008
Case Details:
Victim Lalitha (42), W/o Rajan, is a resident of Thinkal karikkam village under Kollam district. The victim
belongs to the Kurava community. Her husband is a casual labourer. Lalitha and her family were staying
in the property of X’ian, for they don’t have any property. The victim’s community hence took part in a
strike hoping that their children will get at least a cent in their names. On 19 th May 2008 Lalitha was
walking to Athumbumkulam Junction. Few policemen who were sitting there in colored shirts and khaki
pants intervened and asked the victim where she was going. They abused her with filthy words with
regard to caste. Despite the fact that Lalitha was a sickly person the policemen pushed her down.
Though she showed them the notebook containing details of her ailment the police hardly noticed it and
threw it away. A policeman pulled her blouse causing her inner garment become visible. Another
policeman hit on the left side of her shoulder as she got up. She was also beaten on her wrist using a lathi.
Lalitha wept and returned home. Her hand is still swollen. She was admitted in Pathanamthitta GH for
four days. Thus the police behaved inhumanly with all the people who were involved in the strike.
FF Code : KEL/PKD/POL-449/JUNE 2008
Victim(s) : Latha
Perpetrator(s) : SI
Location : Chittoor
Date of incident : 23/05/2008
Case Details:
Victim Latha (31), W/o Sivarajan is a resident of Chittoor. The victim has two children and she belongs
to the Hindu Exhava community. On 23 rd May 2008 two persons inspected the house of the victim. They
went and returned with the Chittoor SI. Sivarajan was not at home at that time. A week before Latha’s
husband took part in the funeral procession of an RSS activist, who was hacked to death. On the way
back Sivarajan and his companions were beaten by CPM activists and he was hospitalized. In
opposition lot of CPM flags were also destroyed. Thus the husband of the victim was always a target of
the police. On the day of the incident, the SI barged into the house of Latha and inquired about her
husband. He beat the dog with a lathi as it barked at his entry. The SI inspected the house and frightened
the children asking them harsh questions. While leaving he touched the body of Latha. The children of
the victim were greatly shocked and fell ill. They had to be hospitalized. Thus the life of the victim and her
family are often affected by the activities of the police.
Kerala
198
Annual Report on Torture
2008