Chennai: Five years after the death of a retired Central Reserve Police Force personnel in police custody in Gudiyatham taluk police station, Vellore district, the State Human Rights Commission directed four policemen including the DSP to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the wife of the man. The commission also recommended that government initiate disciplinary action against policemen and Dr K.Selvaraj, police surgeon, professor of forensic medicine, Government Vellore Medical College, Vellore.
In her petition, G. Sumalatha of Gudiyatham submitted that her husband Gopal, 43, had retired as havildar from the CRPF. On September 29, 2013, at night, Gopal was in his poultry farm when two constables from Gudiyatham taluk police station came there and took him to the police station to interrogate him in connection with the murder of Sugumar of Kamatchiammanpettai, Gudiyatham. The policemen did not produce him in the court but informed her that he died on October 1, 2013, at about 6.00 pm in the police station.
She said that the exact reason for his death was not disclosed to her. She said her husband was healthy at the time of arrest. His body was taken to the Government Hospital, Vellore for postmortem. She sought action against K.Sundaram, DSP, Gudiyatham sub-division, M. Muralidharan, inspector, K. Inbarasan, SSI and S. Umachandran, head constable, Gudiyatham taluk police station, Vellore district.
Denying the allegations, policemen stated that Gopal had been arraigned as an accused in the murder of Sugumaran, government higher secondary school teacher. He, along with others were arrested at Gudiyatham bus stand and brought to the police station for enquiry.
During the enquiry more than 50 persons gathered in front of the police station, raised slogans against the accused and created a law and order problem. Sensing danger, the accused were taken to nearby Melpatti police station for enquiry.
Gopal became unconscious and was rushed to the primary health centre at Melpatti. Following the advice of the doctor he was shifted to Gudiyatham where he was declared as brought dead.
SHRC judge D. Jayachandran said that police had not come forward to disclose how Gopal died in police custody. The commission suspected that Gopal was beaten severely by police.
Holding them responsible for his death, the judge directed police to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Sumalatha and recommended that government to initiate disciplinary action against the policemen and Dr K.Selvaraj.
