THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 21-year-old auto driver committed suicide, by hanging from a tree on Thursday after he was allegedly tortured by the police during vehicle checking.
The deceased was Vinod, of Nannankuzhi Kulathinkara, Balaramapuram.
According to police, he was asked to stop the vehicle during a routine police checking on Wednesday. However, he tried to drive away. He was taken into custody after a chase. Later, he was released on bail, the police said.
On Thursday morning, he was found hanging. Though the Balaramapuram police reached the spot, the local people staged a protest. According to Neyyattinkara DySP Anilkumar, disciplinary action will be taken against anyone only after further inquiry.
Collection Agent Arrested
The Kazhakoottam police on Thursday nabbed a collection agent of a chit company, who absconded with Rs eight lakh.
Anilkumar, 48, of Suja Vilasam, Kariyil, Kazhakoottam is the arrested.
He had collected Rs 8,00,000 on behalf of the financial enterprise.