Parents of Jishnu Pranoy, an engineering college student who allegedly committed suicide, were arrested for trying to stage an indefinite fast in front of Kerala DGP's office.
The family members had arrived from Kozhikode to stage a protest in front of DGP Loknath Behera's office on Wednesday morning, demanding the arrest of all those responsible for Jishnu's death, police said.
As they were walking up to the DGP's office, police stopped them, saying it was a restricted area. Jishnu's uncle alleged that the police kicked him and assaulted Mahija, mother of Jishnu. They were forcibly dragged from the site and arrested.
Jishnu's mother, who suffered injuries, has been hospitalised.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M)-led LDF government has come under criticism from various quarters for the police action. The UDF has called for a state-wide hartal in Kerala on Thursday. Malappuram, which is going for polls on April 12, is exempted from the hartal.
CPI(M) veteran V.S.Achuthanandan called up the DGP and expressed his displeasure.
Leader of opposition in the Kerala assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said he was "pained" that the government failed to understand the sorrow of a mother who had lost her only child.
Chennithala, a former home minister, said he was shocked at the arrest of the boy's relatives, while former chief minister Oommen Chandy termed the police action as "shameful".
BJP leader O.Rajagopal criticised the police action.
Jishnu Pranoy, a first year student of an engineering college in Thrissur, was founding hanging in the college hostel in January, after college authorities harassed him for allegedly copying in an exam.
