The Hurt and Homicide Wing of Crime Branch on Tuesday arrested the accused in connection with the death of an elderly inmate of the Poojappura central prison in November 2009.
Joykutty Samuel, 53, of Ranni, Joseph, 43, of Karukachal Kottayam and Surendran, 40 of Pothencode, were the arrested. The case pertained to the death of Vasupillai, 87, of Neyyatinkara at the Medical College Hospital on November 13, 2009, after being allegedly beaten up by the accused. The CBCID said that the accused were assigned in prison with the duty of taking care of Vasupillai, who was convicted for six months in an offence under the Railway Act, as he was suffering from physical ailments.
Initially, Vasupillai was admitted in the hospital cell of the prison. According to CBCID, on November 7, 2009, Vasu Pillai was beaten up by the accused. On November 9, he was shifted to the hospital as his condition turned worse and he died on November 13.
The prison authorities did not know of the assault and the accused were released from prison after their punishment term was over.
In the beginning, the Poojappura police investigated the case and it was taken over by the Crime Branch following a directive of National Human Rights Commission.
DySP (CB Headquarters) J T Kishorekumar led the investigation team.