Man 'Assaults' Cops During Search, Held

Police say kerosene was poured on them during the enquiry.

VELLORE: A 34-year-old man was arrested on Saturday for allegedly assaulting and trying to set two police women, who were visiting his house in connection with a case of a missing woman, on fire.

Sub-inspector of Police, Devika (40) of Tiruttani Police Station with Woman Head Constable Kavitha and Constable Pushparaj had visited S Suresh (alias) Cable Suresh (of Bangarammakandigai) house in Arakkonam Town on Friday in connection with an 18-year-old newly married girl who had gone missing. Sandhiya’s husband, (also named Suresh, of Tiruthani), accompanied the police.

Sandhiya (18) got married to Suresh on June 21. Eight days later, she went missing. Her husband filed a complaint at the Tiruthani Police Station on July 6.

“We received information that the girl was in S Suresh’s house. So, we along with the complainant, went to his house during the early hours of Friday to check,” said SI Devika.

However, Cable Suresh, his father Sekar, wife Devi and other family members confronted them and allegedly abused the police and are said to have also assaulted constable Pushparaj.

“Head Constable Kavitha an I tried to stop Suresh’s family from assaulting Constable Pushparaj. They pushed us down and poured kerosene on us and threatened that they would set us ablaze. We were petrified and left the place,” she said.

The SI filed a complaint in this regard with the Arakkonam Town police, who registered a case under section 294 (b) (uttering obscene words in public place), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 341 (wrongful restraint) and 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC against Suresh and his family. Police arrested Cable Suresh and launched a search for his family members.

However, police sources in Vellore district have said that SI Devika has blown the incident out of proportion and manipulated the facts to file a case against Cable Suresh.

“Though Suresh and his family members confronted the Tiruthani police, they did not assault them. They in fact gheraoed the police and did not allow the cops to take Suresh in their custody,” said a police source in Vellore.

“Suresh’s family poured kerosene over themselves and threatened the police  that if they continued to harass them, they would end their lives by self-immolation. While pouring the kerosene on themselves, some of it accidentally spilled on SI Devika and HC Kavitha,” added the source. SI Kavitha denied the charge.

Sandhiya, meanwhile, voluntarily reported to the police and her case has been closed.

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