An 18-year-old was physically assaulted by the police and his eardrums damaged while he was wrongfully detained in Kerala’s Kozhikode district. Adil P was taken into custody by Meppayur police on Friday, May 2, in connection with a money laundering case registered in kalamassery of Ernakulam district.
The incident took place around 2.45 pm on May 2, while Adil was at the State Bank of India’s Meppayur branch. Two of the suspects in the money laundering case were at the bank at this time.
The police, who arrived to take the suspects into custody, mistook Adil to be a part of the group. Adil’s brother Jamsheer told TNM, “When he was waiting at the bank, a few people came and grabbed him. They said that they were from the police, but were not wearing their uniforms.”
The police took Adil and the two men to the Meppayur police station. “At the station, they hit Adil on both cheeks, in the presence of a sub inspector,” Jamsheer alleged.
The teenager was allegedly hit by the police without confirming his involvement in the case. Adil was reportedly asked for information regarding one Sourav, who, Adil said, he does not know.
The police allegedly checked his phone, but could not find any incriminating evidence. “The police told him that they were under the wrong assumption that he was with the other two men who were spotted behind him at the bank,” Jamsheer explained.
Adil was released the same day, and the police apologised for the wrongful detention, Jamsheer added.
Jamsheer added that Adil had been taken to the Medical College Hospital in Kozhikode, due to pain in his ears caused by the assault. “His eardrum has sustained injuries, for which he will have to be under treatment for three months. If that doesn’t cure him, he will have to undergo surgery. Currently, he is in severe pain,” he said.
Adil has filed a complaint against the alleged police torture with the Director General of Police (DGP) by Adil. The family will soon file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission too, Jamsheer said.