Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, January 25, 2010: Oommen Chandy, leader of opposition asked the state government to indict the accused policemen under murder charges.

Yesterday, Superintendent of Police, with the State Human Rights Commission, K. Vijayan recommended further investigation recommended further investigation into the alleged custodial death of a 58-year-old man at the Kattakada police station on January 3.

The SP after studying the circumstances of the alleged victim’s death, Babu of Paleli, and the nature of wounds seen on his body during the post-mortem examination gave the . recommendation after questioning doctors.

Babu’s death had caused widespread resentment among the public in Kattakada. Babu’s wife, Chellamma, and his relatives had staged a sit-in in front of the station house. The protesters alleged that the police picked up Babu from his house at 12 midnight on January 3.

According to them, Babu challenged the police and asked the officers to produce the warrant of arrest issued against him. Babu’s relatives said the police overpowered him, bound his legs with cloth and hustled him into the van.

The police said they had arrested Babu on the basis of a “long pending” warrant issued against him in connection with a clash, in 2002 over a piece of disputed land.