Chennai, June 13 (IANS)

Five policemen including the inspector of Kodungaiyur police station were suspended following the alleged custodial death of a person at the station on Sunday. The officers who are placed under suspension are George Miller Ponraj who is the Inspector of Kodungaiyur police station, Sub Inspector of police Kanniyappan, head constables Jayasekhar and Manivannan, and Grade I police constable Sathiyamoorthy.

The victim, Rajashekhar,39, alias Appu was on the history sheet of Sholavaram police station and was picked up by a special team led by the inspector of Kodangiur police from Manali in adjacent Tiruvallur district.

Police said that he was involved in more than 23 cases of theft, attempt to murder, and other criminal cases and has cases registered in Manali new town, Vyasarpadi, MKB Nagar, Avadi tank factory, and Thirunandiruvar police stations.

According to the police, Rajashekhar confessed to the crime and was kept at the police outpost he complained of uneasiness and was taken to a private hospital where he was given emergency treatment and was administered injections. He was later taken to the Government Stanley Medical College hospital where he was brought dead.

The MKB Nagar police registered a case under Section 176(1)(A) of Criminal Procedure Code.

Metropolitan magistrate ,S. Lakshmi conducted an inquiry at the Government Stanley Medical College, at Kodungaiyur police station and an outpost, and also with the relatives of the deceased. It is to be noted that if a person dies in police custody, the nearest magistrate is empowered to conduct an inquiry.

In addition to the inquiry by the magistrate Assistant commissioner, Sembedu Babu has been appointed as the investigating officer for conducting investigation by the police department.