Following the death of A Madhu, an Adivasi man in Attappadi on Thursday, the Agali police have arrested two people who were part of a mob that detained and assaulted him. K Hussein, and PP Kareem both hailing from Agali.
Madhu had been cornered by a group of around 15 men on Thursday. They alleged that he had stolen rice from a groceries shop and went on to tie him up. The 30-year-old tribal man from Attappadi, was beaten up with sticks and handed over to the police by an irate mob, who accused him of theft. He collapsed and died in a police jeep as he was being taken to a Government Specialty Hospital in Kottathara.
The Kerala State Commission for Schedules Castes and Scheduled Tribes alleged that the victim was killed only because he belonged to an Adivasi community.
Taking suo motu notice, the commission has called for an enquiry into the incident and have ordered the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (Kerala Unit) officers to investigate and file a detailed report on the incident.
Alleging that atrocities against SC and ST communities were on the rise and that people think there is nobody to question these atrocities, the commission demanded a detailed report from the District Collector as well.
Expressing shock over the incident, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in his Facebook post said that the incident was highly condemnable and also promised that severe action will be taken against those responsible for the murder.
“I have instructed the State police chief to carry out this task (taking action against those responsible for Madhu’s murder). Such atrocities do not complement with the ways of the civil society and in no way is it acceptable. Such incidents are marring the social and cultural progress that our state has achieved. We will take sever punitive measures to ensure that this does not happen again,” read the Facebook post by the Chief Minister.
Speaking to the media in Thiruvananthapuram, DGP Loknath Behera stated that Thrissur Range Inspector General has been directed to lead the investigations.
What has also rattled Kerala is the photographs that have emerged on social media after the incident, reportedly taken by the mob before attacking him.