In yet another incident of police brutality, a physically-challenged man belonging to the Dalit community in Salem district who was implicated in a theft case, died hours after release from police custody.
Prabhakaran (45) is a resident of the Adi Dravidar colony of Karuppur in Salem district and stays with his wife Samsala (40) and children. Both Prabhakaran and Samsala were taken into custody by police officials from Senthamangalam police station located in the adjacent Namakkal district. Prabhakaran was jailed in Salem sub-jail while his wife was lodged in the sub-jail for women.
Prabhakaran, who was in jail, was admitted in the Salem Government Hospital after his health deteriorated at the supervision of jail wardens. He reportedly got bail in the alleged theft case a few days back and was sent back home from the hospital. However, Prabhakaran died on the same night at 11:30 PM.
His mother Govindammal alleged that Prabhakaran died due to police torture. Later that morning, Govindammal and other relatives laid seige to the government hospital refusing to take Prabhakaran’s body. They along with a few cadres from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) petitioned to the Salem District Collector to take action and register a case against the police officials.
Following this, three police officials namely L. Poonkodi, Sub-Inspector of Pudhuchathiram Police Station; Contable Kulanthaivel of Thiruchengode Rural Police Station; Sub-Inspector A. Chandran of Sendamangalam Police Station have been suspended.
சேலம் கருப்பூர் பிரபாகரன் சாவுக்குக் காரணமான காவல்துறையினர் மூவர் பணியிடை நீக்கம் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர். மேலும் இருவரை நாளை பணியிடைநீக்கம் செய்ய உறுதியளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. கடந்த மூன்று நாட்களாக சேலம் மாவட்ட, மாநில முன்னணி பொறுப்பாளர்கள் பொங்கல் விழாவையும் பொருட்படுத்தாமல் போராடி னர். pic.twitter.com/Cc6553Ifig
— Thol. Thirumavalavan (@thirumaofficial) January 15, 2022
BJP Tamil Nadu President K. Annamalai, condemning the incident questioned the DMK government in the state asking if this government has set any goal of killing at least one person a month in Tamil Nadu due to police brutality.
He demanded that justice be done for the family and address the lacunae in the police system instead of just mere suspension of the officials and compensation for the family.
தமிழகத்தில் மாதம் குறைந்தபட்சம் ஒருவராவது காவல்துறையினரின் அடக்குமுறை காரணமாக உயிரிழக்க வேண்டும் என்று இந்த அரசு இலக்கு ஏதும் வைத்துள்ளதா?
இன்று பிரபாகரன் அவர்களது குடும்பம் சிதைந்து கிடக்கிறது. வழக்கம் போல் சம்பந்தப்பட்ட காவல்துறையினருக்கு இடைநீக்கம் மற்றும்…
1/2 pic.twitter.com/uyRnup2gPc
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) January 16, 2022
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