Beyond Hashtags

Social media takes up a young man’s fight against his brother’s custodial death, puts pressure on government

- Cithara Paul

Facing the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram is a bronze statue of Sir Madhava Rao, the celebrated diwan of the erstwhile Travancore state. During Rao’s stint as diwan, Travancore was named the ‘model state of India’ by the British government. Today, the road from his statue to the secretariat is the main venue of protests in the state capital. Many of these protests, however, are intended only to grab media attention. Hunger strikes hardly last beyond a couple of days. But, P. Sreejith, a native of Neyyattinkara, about 20km south of Thiruvananthapuram, is proving to be an exception.

The 30-year-old has been on a hunger strike outside the secretariat for the last 767 days, seeking justice for his younger brother Sreejeev, who was allegedly tortured and killed in police custody. According to the police, Sreejeev committed suicide by consuming poison. “My brother died in front of me. I cannot forget,” said Sreejith. “How can I rest when the police officers who killed my brother are roaming around free, earning government salary? I will not move from here until a CBI inquiry is ordered.”

Sreejith did not budge even when his mother requested him to stop. “His health is deteriorating by the day. I keep reminding him that I have no one else to perform my last rites,” said Remani, his widowed mother. “But, he tells me that he prefers to die here if he fails to get justice for his brother.”

Sreejith eats only once a week. “I eat only when I feel that I am about to suffer a blackout,’’ he said. He looks emaciated and suffers from memory lapses. His appearance has changed so much in the last two years.