Chilli Spray, Ruptured Eardrums: Former SFI Leader's Harrowing Account of Police Brutality in Kerala

More than a decade has passed, yet the chilling memory of August 20, 2011, remains etched in N.V. Nishad's mind. A former Students' Federation of India (SFI) leader, Nishad has now bravely come forward to recount the horrific police brutality he allegedly endured at the Cantonment police station in Thiruvananthapuram, a testimony that resonates with disturbing relevance in light of recent similar incidents.

Nishad, then a student at Mar Ivanios College, was arrested during a fiery SFI protest in front of the Secretariat, a demonstration aimed at voicing strong opposition to hikes in bus fares and various education-related concerns.

What followed his arrest, however, was not due process, but a harrowing ordeal of alleged torture that left lasting physical and emotional scars.

Inside the confines of the police station, Nishad claims he was subjected to unspeakable cruelty. His eyes and body were mercilessly sprayed with chilli powder, a torment designed to inflict intense pain and disorient him.

The brutality escalated when a police officer allegedly struck him violently on the ear with a lathi, causing his eardrum to rupture instantly. "My eardrum ruptured and I couldn't hear for almost two months," Nishad recounted, the trauma evident in his words. Even today, twelve years later, he continues to suffer from hearing issues as a direct consequence of that brutal blow.

The assault didn't stop there.

Nishad alleges he was repeatedly hit on his hands and feet, leaving him unable to stand or move properly for an excruciating two weeks. The police, he claims, explicitly threatened him, warning him not to disclose the torture to anyone. This coercion, coupled with the profound shock and pain, initially prevented him from revealing the full extent of the abuse.

Furthermore, Nishad was initially denied crucial medical attention, exacerbating his suffering.

It took an agonizing month and a half for a medical report confirming his injuries to be finally issued, a delay that speaks volumes about the alleged attempts to suppress the truth. Despite the evidence, justice remained elusive for years.

Nishad’s decision to share his story now is deeply rooted in solidarity and a renewed call for accountability.

He was moved to speak out after witnessing the recent High Court directive for a fair investigation into alleged police brutality against another student in Ernakulam. As a practicing lawyer today, Nishad is determined that such acts of violence by those sworn to protect should not go unpunished. His voice joins a growing chorus demanding transparency, justice, and an end to custodial violence, ensuring that no individual suffers in silence as he once did.