A tribal man was rescued by the police and local people in the early hours of Friday after being allegedly illegally held captive in a room attached to a village resort without food for six days at Muthalamada in Palakkad district, Kerala.
Vellayan, 54, son of Karuppan from Moochakundu, Chambakuzhi, was found locked up in the resort building at Oorkkulamkadu on Thursday night. The police said the resort owner had confined him to the room.
The police were informed by a group of Dalit activists led by Sivarajan and Mariyappan Neelippara, and Muthalamada councillor Kalpana Devi after they had recieveda tip-off about the detention of Vellayan, a worker at the resort.
On Thursday night, the Dalit group arrived at the resort looking for Vellayan. They said the owner had threatened them when they searched the premises. They eventually found Vellayan confined to a room.
The police reached the spot and broke open the door with the help of the local people. Vellayan appeared exhausted from lack of food and water. He said he was given food only once. He was later admitted to Government District Hospital, Palakkad.
Vellayan, while working at the resort, was allegedly beaten and locked up by the owner as punishment for drinking from a liquor bottle found on the premises.
The police said they were investigating the incident.
Published â August 22, 2025 01:09 pm IST
