New Delhi/Kochi
A truck driver and his assistant were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a tribal youth and leaving him tied to an electric pole after accusing him of obstructing their vehicle.
Truck driver Vishnu Das, 31, and his assistant Reji Mathew, 21, both residents of Sholayur in Attappadi, were arrested after outrage over a video that emerged showing the tribal youth left tied to an electric pole for over an hour in heavy downpour. Both Das and Mathew work as milk collection agents for a local dairy. The incident occurred on Saturday.
Siju, from Chittoor Unnati, is currently being treated at the Government Tribal Specialty Hospital, police said. The men have been booked under relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), the policed added.
Police said the altercation began when Siju was walking along a road and reportedly slipped in front of the mini-truck driven by the two men.
In his complaint to the police, Siju stated. “I accidentally slipped on the road as the mini-truck approached. Two men got out, shouted abusive words, and attacked me without provocation. They accused me of deliberately falling in front of their vehicle, even though there was enough space for the truck to pass. One of them tied me to an electric pole while the other recorded it on a mobile phone.”
A counter-complaint has been filed by Jimson, the owner of the pickup van, alleging that Siju was under the influence of alcohol and had thrown stones at the vehicle, breaking its window.
The incident occurred on May 24 and it is said the hospital notified the police about it the same day but it was not until May 27 that the Agali police registered a FIR against Das and Mathew. The FIR was registered only after the video gained traction on social media.
