Tuticorin: Tension prevailed in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin on Tuesday after the death of a man and his son under mysterious circumstances, who were under police custody.
The deceased have been identified as Jayaraj (56) and his son Fennix (32) of Sathankulam.
Sources said that the father-son duo were booked by the police for flouting the lockdown norms and for keeping their shop open till late in the evening till 7.30 pm June 19. They were also booked for engaging in a verbal spat with the cops, which later turned ugly, after the police insisted them to shut their shop citing lockdown rules.
Locals alleged that Jayaraj, a timber trader, was beaten up by the police for opening his shop beyond the curfew time and was taken into custody. Following this, Fennix, who has a mobile shop, went to the police station and asked for his father's release after which a scuffle broke out.
The cops remanded both the father and son. Locals alleged that the father-son duo were badly beaten up due to which they succumbed to injuries.
Custodial death of father-son duo sparks tension in Tuticorin According to the information, the father and the son had severe injuries when they were brought to Kovilpatti sub-jail.
Fennix was brought to Kovilpatti Hospital after he complained of a chest pain on June 22 but was declared dead. Unfortunately, Jayaraj also died in the same hospital while he was undergoing treatment during the wee hours of Tuesday.
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"Fennix was bleeding heavily. His condition was serious," said one of his friends who went to visit him in prison.
Traders and the kin of the deceased have staged a protest and have demanded that a murder case should be registered against the police personnel, adding that they should be suspended. Demanding strict action against the police, the locals even closed their shops alleging that the father-son duo died of police torture.
"Two policemen who were involved in the incident have been asked to go on leave after being suspended. A departmental enquiry will be initiated," said a district administration official.
Tuticorin MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, leader of Opposition MK Stalin, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) president Prof MH Jawahirullah and environmental activist SP Udayakumar have condemned the act and have demanded a probe into the matter. Kanimozhi also sought adequate compensation for the kin of the deceased and extended support to the protesting traders.
"The state government should take necessary steps and police personnel must be taught to be compassionate while discharging their duties. Justice should prevail and the cops responsible for the murder of the father and the son must be punished severely."
After the incident, security has been beefed up and police forces have been tightened in the area to control the situation.
