Tamil Nadu Sathankulam deaths: 6 booked on murder charges; SI arrested

A major breakthrough has come forward in the Sathankulam death case of Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin. Reportedly, the FIRs filed in the case were altered to include murder charges against two Sub-Inspectors (SI's) -- Raghu Ganesh and Balakrishnan -- as many constables and members of friends of Police. The CB-CID on Wednesday arrested a SI Raghu Ganesh in connection to the case.

Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu): The CB-CID on Wednesday arrested a Sub-Inspector (SI) of police after it booked six people on murder charges in connection with the death of a father-son duo, allegedly thrashed at a police station in this southern district in Tamil Nadu.

The FIRs filed in the case were altered to include murder charges against two SI's -- Raghu Ganesh and Balakrishnan -- as many constables and members of friends of Police, CB-CID sources revealed.

The said Raghu Ganesh was arrested by the CB-CID officials, who took over the probe into the case which has triggered a nation-wide outrage.

CB-CID is a special wing in a Crime Investigation Department (CID) which is headed by the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and also assisted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The deceased have been identified as Jayaraj (56) and his son Beniks (32) of Sathankulam.

Sources said that the father-son duo was 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 19th.

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, however, 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, Beniks, 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 was badly beaten up due to which they succumbed to injuries.

According to the information, the father and the son had severe injuries when they were brought to Kovilpatti sub-jail.

Beniks was brought to Kovilpatti Hospital after he complained of chest pain on June 22nd but was declared dead.

Unfortunately, Jayaraj also died in the same hospital while he was undergoing treatment.

(With inputs from PTI)