CHENNAI: A 21-year-old youth, a suspect in a chain-snatching case, died in police custody on Tuesday raising doubts of police high-handedness.
After strong protests from the relatives and the locals in front of the Kannagi Nagar police station, some of whom hurled petrol-filled bottles and stones on the police station, two personnel of the police station were placed under suspension over the death.
The deceased, Karthick alias ‘Meen’ Karthick, a resident of Chintadripet and his friend identified as Arun alias Arunachalam(21) were arrested on Monday by the Kannagi Nagar police in connection with a chain-snatching case.
According to the relatives, the two on Monday informed their parents that they were going to meet relatives at Kannagi Nagar when they were arrested by the police. The next day, police personnel visited the same locality in search of another suspect Parthiban. It was only then did the duo’s parents learn that their sons were taken to the police station.
“As soon as I heard the news on Tuesday, I rushed to the station, but I was restricted from entering, but I saw the cops beating my son and Karthick. I was told they were inquiring about a case and said they would return soon. I waited till 1.30 am in the police station and returned home. A few hours later, on Wednesday morning, a policeman from Kannagi Nagar conveyed the ‘death’ message to the family in person. It was only then I rushed to the station, but found my son missing,” said Kavitha, mother of Arunachalam.
“On Sunday, my son along with Karthick and Parthiban left home saying they were going to attend a function. We did not know that they had committed a crime,” Kavitha said.
Police said that on Sunday evening, the four members came in Parthiban’s autorickshaw and allegedly tried to snatch a gold chain from a techie identified as Snehalatha (23), at knife point.
“The techie was walking down on Sakthi Srinivasan Road at Thoraipakkam, when one of the four-gang members got down and tried to snatch the chain. And the gang member snatched the victim’s mobile phone and purse. During the incident, another middle aged man identified as Sekar from a grocery shop had come to rescue the woman when he was attacked by the trio.
The men allegedly cut off Sekar’s ear and slit his right hand. He was rushed to Stanley Government Hospital where he is undergoing treatment,” said a police officer.
The incident was recorded on CCTV of a ladies hostel nearby.