A 54-year-old tribal man from the Eravallan community was allegedly locked up, starved, and assaulted for five days by the owner and employees of a private farm stay near Muthalamada in Palakkad district.
The victim, Chambukkuzhi Vellayan, a resident of Moochakundu, was rescued late Thursday night by local residents and Kollengode police. He is currently undergoing treatment at the Palakkad District Hospital.
According to Kalpana Devi, a member of Muthalmada grama panchayat, Vellayan had gone to the farm stay Western Gateways on August 17 for daily wage work. There, he reportedly drank liquor kept on the premises, angering the owner, Prabhu, who, along with his employees, allegedly detained him. “He was given food only once a day but beaten frequently. He was kept locked inside for nearly five days,” Kalpana said.
The incident came to light when another tribal worker visited the premises and alerted Dalit activists and local representatives. A group of residents, led by panchayat members, reached the spot on Thursday night and found Vellayan confined inside a locked room. Police were called in, and the victim was rescued after the door was broken open.
Police said the farm stay, which does not have a valid licence, is now under investigation. Owner Prabhu and his employees have absconded, while his mother Ranganayaki is being questioned. “We have registered a case under attempt to murder and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Search is on for the accused,” a police source said.
Kalpana added that the district police chief has assured strict action, and the matter has also been reported to the district collector.
