Chennai, June 27 (BPNS)
Tamil Nadu police which has drawn flak after two back-to-back custodial deaths in April and May 2022 is now again cornered after allegations that a person was tortured in custody by the Kanniyakumari police consumed poison and died. Opposition political parties including AIADMK, BJP, and human rights organizations have said that a detailed inquiry must be conducted on the allegations that custodial torture was the reason behind the suicide.
Family of the 22-year-old Ajith from Kulasekharam in Kanniyakumari district alleged that he died after consuming poison on Saturday, J25th. The family alleged that he consumed poison after he was tortured at the Kulasekaram police station on Thursday, June 23rd. Police said that Ajith was admitted to Kanniyakumari district hospital and he consumed poison on June 23rd and died on Saturday. However, his father said that he had gone to Kulasekaram police station where he was tortured which led to his suicide.
A criminal case is registered under CrPc Section 174 and the police are investigating.
M. Kalaiselvam, Social activist and Director, Human Rights front of Kanniyakumari while speaking to BPNS said, “The family of Ajith has petitioned that he was tortured to death at the Kulasekaram police station. A detailed probe has to be conducted and truth brought out. “
Kanniyakumari district police have however denied the allegations and in a statement, the DIG of Police, Tirunelveli range, Praveen Kumar said that there was no evidence of custodial torture and CCTV camera footage corroborated what exactly happened. The DIG also said that the deceased Ajith had come to the police station on June 23rd and informed the police that he misplaced his mobile phone at the station. The statement said that he went back and later came to the station and was informed that he had consumed poison. DIG said that police rushed him to Kanniyakumari government hospital where he succumbed to death on June 25.
The opposition AIADMK and the BJP has also come out against the death of Ajith and have called for a detailed investigation.
