Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 3 September, Thrissur DIG Harishankar submitted a report to the DGP regarding the assault.
Published Sep 04, 2025 | 3:53 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 04, 2025 | 3:53 PM
Alleged assault in police station. (Screengrab)
Synopsis: The shocking footage, of Sujith being brutally beaten by SI Nuhman and CPOs Sashindran, Sandeep, and Sajeevan, inside the Kunnamkulam station on 5 April, 2023, was obtained after a two-year-long battle under the Right to Information Act.
Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Wednesday, 3 September, has taken suo motu cognisance of the alleged assault of Youth Congress Chovannoor constituency president Sujith, at the Kunnamkulam Police Station in 2023, after video footage of the incident surfaced in the media.
Commission member V Geetha directed the Thrissur District Police Chief to conduct an immediate probe and submit a detailed report within three weeks.
The shocking footage, of Sujith being brutally beaten by SI Nuhman and CPOs Sashindran, Sandeep, and Sajeevan, inside the Kunnamkulam station on 5 April, 2023, was obtained after a two-year-long battle under the Right to Information Act.
The case was registered voluntarily by the Commission in response to the visuals.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, 3 September, Thrissur DIG Harishankar submitted a report to the DGP regarding the assault.
The report, filed after CCTV footage of the incident emerged, states that action was taken on the very day the complaint was raised. It notes that four officers were penalized with a two-year increment cut and transferred from the station.
It further adds that the only proven charge is that Sujith was beaten by hand, which is also the only charge taken up by the court.
No further action has been recommended, as the case is now under direct investigation by the Kunnamkulam court, with additional steps to follow its order.
The incident began when Sujith questioned police for allegedly threatening his friends in Chovannoor. He was forcibly taken to the station in a jeep, shirtless, and later accused of being drunk and obstructing police duties.
However, a medical examination ordered by the Chavakkad Magistrate’s Court proved he was not intoxicated. A subsequent court-directed medical test confirmed that Sujith suffered hearing loss due to the assault.
Though Sujith’s complaint was initially ignored, the case was later registered on the court’s directions and is now under trial.
Earlier, a report by Crime Records Bureau Assistant Commissioner KC Sethu had also confirmed the custodial assault, noting CCTV evidence of the attack.
The release of the footage comes after the State Information Commission ordered police to hand it over, countering repeated delays by the department.
Strongly reacting to the emergence of CCTV footage, Opposition leaders in Kerala on Wednesday demanded immediate dismissal of the officers involved.
Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan termed the visuals, “shocking to the conscience of Kerala.”
He alleged that the police under the LDF government had turned into “a gang of criminals dressed in khaki” and accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who handles the Home portfolio, of shielding such elements.
“Doesn’t the Chief Minister feel ashamed to say that these people work in his department?” Satheesan asked.
Congress Working Committee member Ramesh Chennithala also demanded stern action, saying police stations must not be turned into “torture centres or Nazi concentration camps.”
He pointed out that Sujith, arrested two years ago for allegedly questioning police intimidation of his friends, was assaulted by multiple officers led by the then SI. Sujith and retrieved the suppressed footage through RTI.
Both leaders warned of strong political protests if the government fails to act.
(Edited by Sumavarsha, with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
