CHENNAI: The married woman from Ambur, whose disappearance on May 24, led to the arrest and subsequent death of a person who was allegedly beaten while in police custody triggering violent protests in Ambur on June 27, informed the Madras High Court that she did not want to continue living with her husband.
Pavithra was produced before the Madras High Court on Monday following a habeas corpus petition moved by her husband, Palani.
Pavithra told Justice S Tamilvanan and C T Selvam, comprising the division bench, that she did not wish to go back to her husband, and that she wanted to file divorce proceedings. Pulling her up for the casual manner in which she was seeking divorce, the judges said, “Divorce is not a commodity sold in shops.”
According to the public prosecutor, police picked her up from a private hostel at Ambattur on Saturday night. Pavithra worked at a leather unit in Ambur.
A complaint lodged by Pavithra’s husband after her disappearance led to the arrest of Shameel Ahmed who was picked up by the Pallikonda police. Shameel died from injuries allegedly sustained during police custody triggering widespread violence injuring over 60 police personnel.
During the hearing, Madras High Court Advocates Association president RC Paul Kanagaraj, who was in the court hall, sought the court to treat such cases seriously and to lay down guidelines, differentiating it from other regular cases.
Considering his submission, the court adjourned the matter to July 23 and directed Pavithra to be present in the court on the next hearing.
“Till then she is directed to stay at the working women’s hostel in Ambattur at her own cost. We direct police to provide proper safety and security to her,” said the bench.
Sec 144 in Ambur, Vaniyambadi
Vellore: The district administration promulgated Section 144 (1) of the Criminal Procedure Code of 1973, (CrPC) that empowers a magistrate to prohibit an assembly of more than ten people in an area to ensure that the simmering tension that continues to prevail in Ambur and Vaniyambadi towns and surrounding areas does not get out of hand. It came into effect after RDO of Tirupattur, D Renganathan convened a meeting with senior police officers and invoked it from June 6 to 6 pm on June 15. Police have deployed 600 people on bandobust duty in Ambur. So far, 131 individuals have been arrested.
Inspector Premraj still untraceable
Vellore: Inspector C Martin Premraj, the prime accused in the alleged custodial death of Shameel Ahmed, continues to remain at large and has been untraceable. Sources in the CB-CID said that the then Inspector of Pallikonda, Premraj has been issued a summons for an inquiry in connection with the death of Ahmed. However, Premraj has not turned up for the inquiry. Police have Premraj’s permanent address in in Thirukovilur in Villupuram district. “We will try to issue the summons copy in person. If he fails to do so, we will take further action,” said the police official.