Tribal youth found dead at Kalpetta police station; call for detailed probe

AN 18-year-old youth from a tribal community detained for questioning in connection with the disappearance of the girl was found dead at the toilet of the Kalpetta police station on Tuesday, sparking widespread outrage and calls for a detailed probe, including into the alleged lapses by the cops that led to his death.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Kalpetta

The deceased is Puthiyapadi Gokul, a Scheduled Tribes community member hailing from Nellarachal at Ambalavayal in Wayanad. He and the minor girl had been missing from Kalpetta since March 27. On Monday, the two were spotted in Kozhikode, following which they were detained and taken to the Kalpetta police station. While the girl was sent to the Sakhi Home in Kalpetta by 11 pm, the police kept Gokul back at the station for further questioning.

A police officer said around 7.45 am on Tuesday, Gokul asked for permission to go to the washroom. When he failed to come out even after 15 minutes, the police broke open the door and found Gokul hanging, with his shirt around his neck. He was rushed to a private hospital nearby where he breathed his last.