In a shocking incident that has drawn comparisons to the 2018 lynching of Madhu, a 19-year-old Adivasi youth was allegedly assaulted and tied to an electric post in Kerala’s Attappady. The youth, identified as Siju V from the tribal region, was found soaked in the rain and in a semi-naked condition after allegedly being beaten and restrained by two men on Saturday, May 24.
Siju is currently undergoing treatment at Kottathara Hospital for injuries sustained during the assault. According to his statement to the media, the incident began when he accidentally fell in front of a milk collection van in Sholayur.
“I fell on a stone and tumbled in front of their vehicle. They thought I did it on purpose and started beating me. Then they dragged me along the road and tied me to an electric post. They left me there in the rain. I stood there for over an hour until some local people found me and took me to the hospital,” said Siju.
The Agali police arrested the two accused—Regin Mathew, the van’s driver from Sholayur, and Vishnudas, a cleaner from Alappuzha—on Wednesday, May 28, around 1 a.m. from Singanallur in Coimbatore.
The accused have been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act along with Section 115(2) (attempt to murder), Section 118(1) (causing hurt with dangerous weapons), Section 126(2) (wrongful restraint), Section 127(2) (wrongful confinement), and Section 296(b) (obscene acts) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Siju’s father has expressed concern over the police’s handling of the case, alleging bias in favor of the accused. “The police called me on Monday and behaved as though the people who helped my son were guilty. They even threatened to seize their vehicle. Despite this terrible incident, the police seem to be siding with the attackers. I will approach the Human Rights Commission for justice,” he told reporters.
Meanwhile, a counter-complaint has been filed by Jimson, the owner of the pickup van, alleging that Siju was under the influence of alcohol and had thrown stones at the vehicle, breaking its window.
However, police are yet to confirm these claims. Speaking to TNM, Agali Sub-Inspector Rajesh said, “We are investigating the matter thoroughly before arriving at any conclusions.” Police have yet to confirm whether Siju was assaulted before being tied up.
The incident has revived painful memories of the horrific death of Madhu, a 27-year-old tribal man from the same region, who was tied up and brutally beaten by a mob on allegations of theft, and later died in police custody from the injuries he sustained.