Six months after the mysterious death of a Dalit youth in Kannur district of Kerala, police have confirmed that he was in fact brutally tortured for hours.

The death evoked widespread criticism with some terming it "Taliban-style execution by Islamic fundamentalists" and seeking a NIA probe. Eight of the 13 accused have been arrested and charged with "attempt to commit culpable homicide and abetment of suicide". Investigating officer P Sadanandan said, "The accused are Popular Front of India activists, a Muslim radicals group."