13 INDIAN POLICEMEN CHARGED IN CUSTODIAL DEATH

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India - A total of 13 policemen are among the 14 charged in relation to the death of a man in custody five years ago in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Three constables are accused of torturing a man named Udayakumar which led to his death. They have been charged with murder. The others are charged with forging documents and of conspiracy in relation to the case.

• Three female constables are among the accused. The only one charged in the case who is not a policeman is Suresh Kumar who was allegedly at the station when Udayakumar was interrogated.
• The allegation is that Udayakumar, who was taken into custody on suspicion of stealing money, was tortured to death in custody.
• Udayakumar died at the Fort police station at the state capital in September 2005 and his body had multiple injuries.
• The case was handed to the CBI for investigation. The police allegedly tortured Udayakumar after he was unable to explain the source of money that he had with him.

The Central Bureau of Investigation yesterday submitted the charge sheet in the case before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kochi. The accused include deputy superintendent of police E.K. Saboo and circle inspector Ajith Kumar. The three constables charged with murder are Jithakumar, Sreekumar and Soman.
The case has attracted media attention at different points during the investigation, including the time when the CBI charged some of the police officers with attempting to forge documents to allegedly save their colleagues.
Source: The Correspondent