On April 18, two youth in their twenties travelling in an auto were stopped by the police during night check at Kellys. Vignesh (25), who used to offer horse rides at the Chennai’s Marina Beach and Suresh (28), a construction worker, were reportedly in possession of ganja and liquor. When the police confronted the duo, there was a verbal duel and Vignesh allegedly tried to attack the police with a knife. They were pinned down and later brought to the G5 Secretariat Colony police station. Vignesh later developed health complications. He started vomitting and had seizures. He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. Vignesh’s relatives reportedly saw injuries in several parts of the body.
A case of “suspicious death” has been registered and a police sub-inspector, a constable and a home guard personnel have suspended in connection with the incident.
Vignesh belonged to a Scheduled Caste.
Another incident was reported in Tiruvannamalai where a man named Thangamani, was taken into police custody on April 26 to inquire about illegal liquor sale in the area.
Relatives of the deceased alleged that the police had filed a false case and that the inspector had sought money to set them free.
The police on the other hand reportedly claimed that Thangamani had fits the next day and was rushed to the hospital. He apparently died in the middle of the treatment.
Thangamani was from the Kuravar community, a Scheduled Tribe.
These two incidents happened just over a span of ten days.
In another incident that happened in January 2022, a physically-challenged man named Prabhakdaran was locked up for allegedly stealing jewelry from a provision stores owner. Prabhakaran fell ill in the jail following which he was rushed to the Namakkal Government Hospital for treatment and was later shifted to the Salem Government Hospital. He died on January 12. Prabhakaran’s relatives have alleged police torture as the reason for the death. Three police officers were suspended.
Prabhakaran too belonged to a Scheduled Caste community.
In June 2021, a fruit stall owner named Murugesan was thrashed to death by police in the middle of the road. In a video that were doing the rounds on social media at that time, an officer named Periyasamy can be seen thrashing the man with a lathi until he remained motionless.
In all these cases, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu either offered a solatium or ‘promised’ a thorough enquiry with suspension or cases registered against accused police officers.
Despite these back-to-back incidents of police brutality, the virtue-signallers of Kollywood who consider themselves to be champions of justice have maintained stoic silence.
Remember the viral video of ‘Radio Mirchi’ Suchitra, explaining in graphic detail about the Sathankulam incident where two men named Jayaraj and Bennix allegedly died of police torture?
Well, she is no where to be seen now.
Actor-turned-virtue-signaller who issued a ‘strong statement’ against the custodial death of Jayaraj and Bennix stands with his mouth zipped.
‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth, who relased a picture of his ‘angry face’ expressing shock over the incident and calling for all the officials to be severely punished, has gone on mute to shoot for his next film with Sun Pictures.
#சத்தியமா_விடவே_கூடாது, which loosely translates to “truly, should not let this go” was the hashtag he used.
Full-time actor and part-time politician Kamal Haasan who demanded action against the police, judiciary, doctors involved in the Sathankulam incident is today missing in action.
Director Vetrimaaran who had made a film on custodial torture and had tweeted supporting justice for Jeyaraj and Bennix hasn’t uttered a word on any of the above deaths. The last tweet of his was in support of Jai Bhim, a controversial film starring and produced by ‘actor’ Suriya on police torture.
Many other Kollywood personalities like ‘Jayam’ Ravi, directors Vetrimaaran, Karthik Subbaraj, Pa. Ranjith and others have resorted to looking the other way.
Pa. Ranjith’s is an interesting case where he has played safe by retweeting a tweet from another handle about the recent Thiruvannamalai incident. Just like a soft slap on the cheek. Maybe he is having some trouble in his spine (probably lacks one), to give a hard-hitting statement.
This dead silence now and selective outrage from these celebrities tells a lot about their opportunism and how they stand in mercy at the gates of Gopalapuram.
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Four die of police brutality in TN; Kollywood virtue-signallers look the other way
On April 18, two youth in their twenties travelling in an auto were stopped by the police during night check at Kellys. Vignesh (25), who used to offer horse rides at the Chennai’s Marina Beach and Suresh (28), a construction worker, were reportedly in possession of ganja and liquor. When the police confronted the duo, there was a verbal duel and Vignesh allegedly tried to attack the police with a knife. They were pinned down and later brought to the G5 Secretariat Colony police station. Vignesh later developed health complications. He started vomitting and had seizures. He was rushed to the hospital where he was declared brought dead. Vignesh’s relatives reportedly saw injuries in several parts of the body.
A case of “suspicious death” has been registered and a police sub-inspector, a constable and a home guard personnel have suspended in connection with the incident.
Vignesh belonged to a Scheduled Caste.
Another incident was reported in Tiruvannamalai where a man named Thangamani, was taken into police custody on April 26 to inquire about illegal liquor sale in the area.
Relatives of the deceased alleged that the police had filed a false case and that the inspector had sought money to set them free.
The police on the other hand reportedly claimed that Thangamani had fits the next day and was rushed to the hospital. He apparently died in the middle of the treatment.
Thangamani was from the Kuravar community, a Scheduled Tribe.
These two incidents happened just over a span of ten days.
In another incident that happened in January 2022, a physically-challenged man named Prabhakdaran was locked up for allegedly stealing jewelry from a provision stores owner. Prabhakaran fell ill in the jail following which he was rushed to the Namakkal Government Hospital for treatment and was later shifted to the Salem Government Hospital. He died on January 12. Prabhakaran’s relatives have alleged police torture as the reason for the death. Three police officers were suspended.
Prabhakaran too belonged to a Scheduled Caste community.
In June 2021, a fruit stall owner named Murugesan was thrashed to death by police in the middle of the road. In a video that were doing the rounds on social media at that time, an officer named Periyasamy can be seen thrashing the man with a lathi until he remained motionless.
In all these cases, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu either offered a solatium or ‘promised’ a thorough enquiry with suspension or cases registered against accused police officers.
Despite these back-to-back incidents of police brutality, the virtue-signallers of Kollywood who consider themselves to be champions of justice have maintained stoic silence.
Remember the viral video of ‘Radio Mirchi’ Suchitra, explaining in graphic detail about the Sathankulam incident where two men named Jayaraj and Bennix allegedly died of police torture?
Well, she is no where to be seen now.
Actor-turned-virtue-signaller who issued a ‘strong statement’ against the custodial death of Jayaraj and Bennix stands with his mouth zipped.
‘Superstar’ Rajinikanth, who relased a picture of his ‘angry face’ expressing shock over the incident and calling for all the officials to be severely punished, has gone on mute to shoot for his next film with Sun Pictures.
#சத்தியமா_விடவே_கூடாது, which loosely translates to “truly, should not let this go” was the hashtag he used.
Full-time actor and part-time politician Kamal Haasan who demanded action against the police, judiciary, doctors involved in the Sathankulam incident is today missing in action.
Director Vetrimaaran who had made a film on custodial torture and had tweeted supporting justice for Jeyaraj and Bennix hasn’t uttered a word on any of the above deaths. The last tweet of his was in support of Jai Bhim, a controversial film starring and produced by ‘actor’ Suriya on police torture.
Many other Kollywood personalities like ‘Jayam’ Ravi, directors Vetrimaaran, Karthik Subbaraj, Pa. Ranjith and others have resorted to looking the other way.
Pa. Ranjith’s is an interesting case where he has played safe by retweeting a tweet from another handle about the recent Thiruvannamalai incident. Just like a soft slap on the cheek. Maybe he is having some trouble in his spine (probably lacks one), to give a hard-hitting statement.
This dead silence now and selective outrage from these celebrities tells a lot about their opportunism and how they stand in mercy at the gates of Gopalapuram.
Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.