Chennai: Over 10 years after the death of a Dalit worker following custodial torture, the State Human Rights Commission has directed former inspector, a woman SI and a head constable of Dindugal district to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to his wife. Judge, D. Jayachandran, has also directed DGP to initiate departmental action against them for causing the death. They had tortured and threatened him to admit that he stole wire from former Minister I. Periyasamy’s garden in 2007.
In the petition, J. Panchavarnam of Vathalpatti, Dindigul district, submitted that she and her husband, Jayapandi, worked as agricultural coolie under Karthikeyan of Sundapalayam village in Coimbatore district from June 2007 and stayed in Karthikeyan’s land. When Jayapandi went to Vathalpatti to attend funeral, he was picked up by Sarkarai, inspector, Pandiammal, SI and Jayaprakash, head constable of Viruveedu police station, Dindigul district, on charge of stealing electric wire from garden of the then DMK minister I. Periyasamy.
Even after informing that he got the wire from Karthikeyan, the police took him to the station for investigation. He was released from the station only after repeated request from his father and brother. Again the woman SI took him to the police station on February 15, 2008 and tortured him in the police lock up. Only after intervention of villagers, was he released. Next day, he returned to Coimbatore for work and died on February 17.
Viruveedu police refused to register complaint and in turn threatened Panchavarnam with dire consequences and advised her to bury the body. Later, the body was buried in Vathalapatti village. Following protest by local residents, the Viruveedu police station registered a case on February 20, 2008. In the petition she contended that police personnel misused their power. Hence, suitable action must be initiated against them. Police personnel denied the allegation. Jayapandi’s body was exhumed and inquest was conducted. No external injuries were noticed on his body.
Considering oral and documentary evidences the judge Jayachandran said Jayapandi was innocent and police personnel are responsible for his death. The judge directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Panchavarnam and recover the amount from them. The commission has recommended the government to consider providing a government job to petitioner. The judge has also directed DGP to initiate departmental action against them and to initiate criminal prosecution against trio for the offences under section 302 of IPC and under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
