Chennai : While Tamil Nadu police is historically notorious for highhandedness and third-degree torture, the brutal killing of an elderly man and son this time, has sparked protests across the state.
In the incident, P Jeyarj,62, who ran a mobile shop at Sathankulam town was taken into police custody on June 19, for allegedly making critical remarks about a police patrol team the day earlier, for forcing early shop closure as per lockdown rules. An auto-driver snitched the matter to the police who came next day and took him into custody. Eventually, his son, J Bennix, 32, reached Santhakulam police station and saw his father being manhandled. Agitated, he questioned the officer and tried to protect his father, pushing the sub-inspector away in the event. “Provoked”, the two sub-inspectors and two constables present at the time allegedly tortured them as a pack.
When Jeyaraj and Bennix emerged post midnight on June 20, the men were in critical shape and bleeding, their family who waited outside the station said. During the torture hours, there were a total of 13 station crew including officers and volunteers from Friends of Police present inside the premises.
Jeyaraj and Bennxi were taken to the government hospitals with their lungi and pants respectively soaked in blood. Once at the facility, their lungis were changed frequently owing to severe bleeding. Policemen had asked the family to bring “dark colour” lungis. Then, after three hours they were taken to Sathankulam magistrate court, where according to Jeyaraj’s brother-in-law, the judge waved them off from the first floor of building, signaling a remand for the two to Kovilpatti Sub Jail.
The family heard nothing of them again until June 22 when, the two were shifted to nearby government hospital for non-stop bleeding and severe injuries both outside and internal. Bennix succumbed to his condition late evening June 22 and Jyaraj died in pre-dawn hours of June 23.
Action Typical
In marked departure from how US handled its conspicuous murder at hands of police recently in George Floyd case, action against police is going along typical Indian lines. FIRs are filed without murder charges. Following public outcry and protests, two sub-inspectors were placed under suspension and the station house officer, in classic style, transferred to another location. Meanwhile, with protests and demonstrations growing bigger and loud, a judicial inquiry has been launched.
Tamil Nadu custodial deaths: Family says magistrate saw the two ...
(Image : Indian Express)
In another development, CPI(M) state secretary K Balkrishnan was arrested by police for persistent demonstrations against the incident. He was later released.
