Kochi: A woman has come out as a crucial witness in the alleged custodial death of a man in Tripunithura. The woman alleged that 53-year-old Manoharan, hailing from Irumpanam, was shaking after police slapped him during a vehicle inspection on Saturday night.
“I rushed to the scene after hearing noises. Three policemen were questioning Manoharan on why he refused to stop his bike when they signalled him. Manoharan replied that he kept driving out of fear. The official slapped him soon after he removed his helmet and didn’t give him time to park his bike. He stood there shaking after the official slapped him. They also tested whether he was drunk using a Breathalyzer. Though he was not drunk, he was taken away in their jeep,” Ramadevi said.
Manoharan was taken into custody for not stopping his bike on Saturday night. However, the police officials said that he collapsed soon after the jeep arrived at the station. He was immediately rushed to Tripunithura Taluk hospital and later moved to Ernakulam Medical Trust hospital. However, he was declared dead by the time he reached the hospital.
Following this, Manoharan’s family filed a complaint on Sunday morning. Tripunithura SI Jimmy George was suspended following the incident. The District Crime Branch commissioner has directed concerned officials to submit a report on the matter.