Tribal youth allegedly locked up, starved and assaulted for six days in Palakkad

Palakkad: A tribal youth was allegedly confined to a room, starved, and physically assaulted for six days, according to a complaint filed in Muthalamada, Palakkad district.

The victim, identified as Vellayan, a member of the Adivasi community residing in Moochakundu, Chambakkuzhi, was reportedly attacked after consuming alcohol from a bottle found at a local resort, where he had arrived for work.

In response, the resort owner is alleged to have locked Vellayan in a room in a building adjacent to the resort premises. The incident came to light when a labourer employed at the resort informed local Dalit leader Shivarajan, who subsequently alerted the former panchayat president.

A group, including several women, accompanied the former panchayat president to the resort in search of the youth. According to the former president, the resort owner attempted to threaten and obstruct the search. Undeterred, the group eventually discovered Vellayan unconscious in one of the rooms.

The police were immediately notified and arrived at the scene, where they opened the locked door and took the youth to a nearby hospital.

The former panchayat president later reported that the victim claimed he was kicked when he asked to relieve himself and was only provided food once a day during the six-day confinement.