Order CBI or judicial probe into 'custodial' death of man:

Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala today demanded a judicial or a CBI probe into the alleged custodial death of a 26-year-old man in Varappuzha near Kochi on April 9.

The ruling CPI(M)-led LDF government should hand over the case to CBI or order a judicial probe, Chennithala told reporters here.

Attempts were also being made by CPI(M) to influence the witnesses, the Leader of Opposition in the assembly alleged.

The victim S R Sreejith had died in a private hospital.

His family alleged that he was kicked several times in the stomach and thrashed by the policemen who took him into custody in connection with a case relating to the death of a 55-year-old CPI(M) sympathiser.

Seven police personnel have been suspended in connection with the death of Sreejith so far and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been formed to probe the case.