Kerala: Two cops sentenced to death on custodial death

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on Wednesday had sentenced capital punishment to two serving police officers charged over the custodial death of a 26-year-old Udayakumar in 2005.

CBI Special court judge J Nazeer sentenced the capital punishment to assistant Sub-Inspector K Jithakumar and Civil Police Officer S V Sreekumar. The special court had also ordered them to pay a fine of Rs two lakh each.

The sentenced of capital punishment is believed to be the first time been awarded to the active uniform officers in Kerala.

The three other accused in the case, Former fort assistant T K Haridas, former circle inspector E K Sabu and former sub-inspector Ajit Kumar, who were found guilty of destruction of evidence and conspiracy have given three years imprisonment each.

The three accused were also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 each.

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The third prime accused K V Sonam had died during the trial, while another accused, V P Mohanan was acquitted by the court earlier.

According to the prosecution, Udayakumar was taken into custody with a theft charge in September 27, 2015 and had died in a police station after third degree torture to extract confession.

Jithakumar and Sreekumar, who took Udayakumar into custody, were held responsible for the murder, while three others were found guilty of conspiracy and destroying evidence.

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The case had triggered widespread protests across the state.

The CBI had taken over the investigation of the case following a high court order on a petition filed by Udayakumar's mother Prabhavathi.