KOLLAM: A Report prepared by Kollam rural SP B Ashokan has found severe lapses on the part of Anchal police in probing the assault on a guest worker who later succumbed to the injuries.
Manik Roy, 50-year-old West Bengal native, was attacked by a gang on June 24 around 7 pm, accusing him of stealing a hen. The report submitted to the range IG on Thursday said the police took Manik’s statement only by midnight and no follow up investigation was carried out despite a complaint against the accused.
The police arrested Sasidharakurup of Panayancheri and Asif of Thazamel after Roy died on July 15. The report was critical of Anchal SI Rajesh for not confiscating Asif’s bike, who left the scene after the assault.
Rajesh was not included in the investigation team led by Anchal CI T Sathikumar, supervised by Punalur DySP Anil Kumar.
Manik, a construction worker, was returning home with a hen he purchased on June 24 when a gang on motor bike intercepted and assaulted him alleging that he had stolen the hen.
The gang left a profusely bleeding Roy on the road. Passers by took him to a private hospital from where he was discharged two days later.
He fell unconscious at his workplace and succumbed to injuries on the way to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital on July 15.
An autopsy report revealed that a head injury inflicted by the attackers turned fatal. Manik and family have been living in a rented house at Panayancheri for the past five years.
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has taken a suo-motu case and directed the district police chief to submit a report within three weeks.