Kerala: CPI-M Leader Complains Of Gold Theft, Suspect Commits Suicide With Wife After Being Assaulted By Police

A gold smith and his wife committed suicide at Changanassery in Kerala’s Kottayam district after police assaulted him in custody following a complaint from a local Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader.

The gold smith, identified as Sunil Kumar, worked at a jewellery shop owned by the CPI-M leader. He was assaulted while the police interrogated him at the local police station for over 12 hours, the report says.

Kumar was summoned by the police after the CPI-M leader Sajikumar complained that 400 grams of gold jewellery was missing from his manufacturing unit.

According to a report in Malayalam daily Manorama, the autopsy showed several assault marks on Kumar’s body. No such marks were, however, found on his wife Reshma’s body.

Police found a note left behind by the couple saying they were ending their lives due to police brutality and Sajikumar’s threats.

The couple resorted to this step as they found themselves helpless over the deadline given by police to return the stolen jewellery.

The suicide following police brutality has gained political dimension with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party taking up the issue and demanding action against those involved. A one-day hartal was observed on the issue in Changanassery on Thursday (6 July).

The incidents comes on the heels of a report submitted to Kerala Director General of Police Lokesh Behera. The report claims that the force has become highly politicised.