Custodial deaths on the rise in Kerala

By Team Asianet Newsable | First Published Dec 10, 2016, 8:28 AM IST

In the last three years 16 custodial deaths were reported in Kerala
30% of the cases filed with Kerala State Human Rights Commission are about police atrocities
Using of third degree torture by police has increased over the years

Kerala police has come under severe criticism for its third degree brutality which has resulted in the increasing number of alleged custodial deaths. Union Deputy Minister for Home Affairs informed Lok Sabha that 30% of the cases filed with Kerala Human Rights Commission are about police atrocities.

As many as 140 police torture deaths were reported in 2013-2014 while 130 cases were reported in 2014-2015. During 2015-2016 153 deaths were caused by police torture and till October 2016, 88 persons died. As many as 16 custodial deaths were reported in last three years.

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The report points to the magnitude of the problem. It was also revealed that using of third degree by police has increased over past years. However, in most cases, both UDF and LDF government, which take turns to rule the state justifies police action and states that none of the deaths was caused by police torture.

The continuing deaths owing to police torture and increasing number of custodial deaths points to the failure of successive governments in implementing the police reforms recommended by various committees.

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