Chennai: The National Human Rights Commission has sent notices to the Tamil Nadu chief secretary and the director general of police, returnable in four weeks, after it took suo motu cognisance of media reports on the death of a Sri Lankan refugee allegedly in police custody at Pallikaranai station here on September 4.
An NHRC press release said no intimation of the death was received in the commission from the State government. Justice D. Murugesan, member, NHRC, observed that “as per the media report, Mohan died while he was in police custody and that too due to the severe torture by police. That apart, on verification of the registry of the commission, it is also ascertained that no intimation of the death was received in the commission from the state government so far.” According to NHRC guidelines, intimation regarding death in custody should be reported to the commission within 24 hours.
Mohan was picked up by the city central crime branch sleuths based on information that he had connections with people who prepared forged passports. He was taken into custody and was enquired for about three days, the release said. During inquiry onthe night of September 4, he collapsed and therefore, he was admitted to a nearby private hospital where he was declared dead. Family members of the victim said the death was due to brutal treatment by police, the press release said.
