PUDUCHERRY: One more policeman was suspended in connection with the alleged custodial death of a 36-year-old man at Villainur police station. Simon Kannan, assistant sub-inspector, was suspended on Friday. Five policemen were suspended on Wednesday in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, the Federation for People’s Rights has urged the government to transfer the custodial death case at Villainur police station to the CBI.
In a statement, federation secretary G Sugumaran said the personnel of Puducherry police were involved in the case and it was felt that justice could not be rendered if the Puducherry police investigate the case.
Alleging that Muthukumaran died due to torture by the police, Sugumaran said, quoting family members, marks of beatings could be seen on the back of his body.
Sugumaran said that the police was enacting a ‘drama’ to escape action by giving a version that he had hanged himself. This can’t be believed as it is a practice to use third degree methods on accused arrested in connection with theft cases to recover valuable items, he alleged.
Alleging that the suspended police personnel were making efforts to arrive at a compromise with the family of the victim by offering money, Sugumaran demanded that all the suspended police personnel be asked to stay away from Puducherry. He also demanded that the case be altered to murder case and all the six be arrested.
The federation leader demanded that the administration should bear the educational and other expenses of the three children of the victim and a compensation of Rs 10 lakh be given to the family.
Meanwhile, the post-mortem was held at JIPMER and the process was video recorded. The body was handed over to the relatives after collector Kanikandan held talks with them. The relatives refused to accept the body till justice was rendered. After talks, the relatives were assured that an amount of Rs 1 lakh will be provided to the victim’s family.
It may be recalled that Villianur police had picked up Muthukumaran (36) for interrogation in connection with a theft case and later his family members were informed on September 1 that he had committed suicide in the lock-up using his lungi. Following this, six police personnel, including a sub-inspector, were suspended and a judicial probe is on.