Chennai: Prisoner’s relatives allege torture by officials after riot
Rights group: Prison attack result of jailer’s inhuman treatment
Chennai: Four days after the commotion inside Puzhal prison in which a 25-year-old warden, Muthumani, was seriously injured after prisoners’ attacked jail officials, a rights group claimed that inhuman treatment by the jailer, Ilavarasan, triggered the attack.
The group has demanded probe by a high court judge into the incident. Meanwhile, the family of the prisoner in the high security block where the ruckus unfolded on Friday claims that its kin was beaten up badly by the jail authorities after the incident.
Relatives of Syed Abudaheer jailed in the high security block were denied permission to meet him initially on Monday. “My husband couldn’t stand continuously and was brought with support. He had cut injuries on his wrist, which were not even properly attended to. He needs immediate medical assistance, but the prison authorities told me that I could see him only once in three months henceforth,” Rabiya, wife of Syed told DC.
Syed is one of the accused remanded in connection with the murder of Hindu Munnani man KPS Suresh Kumar on June 18,2014. Syed is also jailed in the high security block along with terror suspects, Police Fakruddin and aides.
Recalling the incidents on Friday, which led to the attack, advocate P. Pugalenthi of the Prisoners Rights Forum blamed jailer Ilavarasan for his inhuman treatment to prison inmates over a long period of time.
On September 25, Police Fakruddin, Bilal Malik and Panna Ismail met their advocate, through whom they tried to approach prison SP, Rajendren. “Learning of the incident, jailer Ilavarasan chided them for trying to meet the superintendent without his knowledge and permission and reportedly told the prisoners that he will kill them. The prisoners retorted verbally after which the events unfolded,” Pugalenthi said.
According to Pugalenthi, jailer Ilavarasan is notorious among the inmates for his inhuman methods. “Fakruddin had petitioned twice at the Poonamalee court against Ilavarasan and his methods, but it seemed to have fallen on deaf ears,” he added. Following the attack on September 25, 'Police' Fakruddin, Panna Ismail and Bilal Malik were shifted separate jails under armed police escort the next day.
