Tuticorin: A 25-year-old auto driver died at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital on Sunday after the alleged physical torture in the police custody, sparking controversy in the area. The father of the deceased, identified as N Kumaresan, filed a complaint against the Sub Inspector Chandrashekar, Superintendent of Police and other police officers accusing them of brutally torturing and beating his son which caused his death.
This is the second case of custodial death which has surfaced in Tamil Nadu after the deaths of Jayaraj and Bennick which sparked national ire. Activists, social workers and celebrities have taken to the social media demanding justice for the father-son duo comparing their deaths to the death of George Floyd in the United States.
According to reports, N Kumaresan was admitted to Hospital for about 15 days and medical reports suggest that he faced 'physical assault' and had multiple injuries on his body.
Chronology of the events:
N Kumaresan was called at Tenkasi Police station on May 8 for interrogation over a land dispute case, filed by a resident Senthil who lives in the same area. Reportedly, the auto driver was slapped by the Sub Inspector Chandrashekar and was called again after two days.
Two days later, during the interrogation process, the auto driver was allegedly brutally beaten up by cops. Sources said that Kumaresan was physically tortured and the cops had beaten him up black and blue with lathis following which he sustained severe injuries in his lower abdomen. The cops had also threatened to hurt his father if he dared to speak to anyone about the incident.
Read: Custodial death of father-son duo sparks tension in Tuticorin
It was after a few days when his health deteriorated and his family members admitted him to the hospital on June 12. The victim narrated his ordeal to the doctors attending him who later revealed that Kumaresan's kidneys and liver were badly damaged. Kumaresan succumbed to injuries on June 27 and the kin of the deceased has alleged police brutality.
The incident has once again triggered panic in the area and people of the area have expressed outrage over the police brutality.
