2 cops get death over custodial killing of youth in India

An Indian court has sentenced death penalty for two policemen in Kerala state over torturing and killing a youth in police custody in 2005.

A special CBI court in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday awarded death to K Jithakumar and SV Sreekumar, both civil police officers, and also fined Rs 2 lakh each, reports The Indian Express.

Two other accused in the case, EK Sabu and T Ajithkumar, have been sentenced to six years in jail for abetment to crime and destruction, while another accused TK Haridas was awarded three years' imprisonment.

In 2005, Udayakumar, 27, and his friend Suresh were picked up by officers of the Fort Police station in Thiruvananthapuram on September 27 from the Sreekandeshwaram Park in the city on charges of theft.

Cash amounting to Rs 4,500 found in Udayakumar's possession was seen as the ground for the duo to be taken into custody.

Two constables then tortured Udayakumar to force a confession out of him, beating him mercilessly with cane sticks on his legs and later rolling down a heavy iron pipe down his thighs which resulted in his death.

Prabhavati, Udayakumar's mother, pursued the case relentlessly for more than a decade demanding justice for the killing of her son in police custody.

In her reaction after the verdict, Prabhavati said, "God has finally answered my prayers. No police officer should dare to torture anyone like this under the garb of their uniform," reports The Indian Express.

"I pray to God that no son should ever have to undergo such brutal torture at the hands of the police," she said, breaking down to tears.