Chennai: State Human Rights Commission has directed the state government to pay a compensation of Rs 75,000 to a van driver, a victim of custodial torture.
Three police personnel including a woman SI had tortured the driver after a girl eloped with her lover in Sivagangai district nine years ago.
In the petition, driver, A. Velmurugan of Satharasankottai, Sivagangai district, submitted that K. Rasiya of Tiruvallur district and S. Murugan of Ilayangudi were in love for two years.
They ran away from the village and got married. Murugan contacted Velmurugan and informed him that he was staying along with Rasiya in Tirupur.
On April 17, 2009, he was taken to Ilayangudi police station, for inquiry. The police attacked him repeatedly. After forcing him to remain half naked sub inspector Geethalakshmi attacked him on his buttocks with palmyra tree plank. Even after informing them about whereabouts of Murugan, they continued to attack him.
On learning about Velmurugan being admitted to government hospital, the cops rushed to hospital and threatened to discharge him from the hospital. Next day, he was admitted to Government General Hospital, Sivagangai. As complaints sent to senior police officers evoked no response, Velmurugan filed the petition seeking action against trio.
In its reply, the police personnel denied the allegations. Velmurugan was questioned in connection with missing of Rasiya. As he was facing arrest in the case, he filed this false complaint against them. They said they had not violated any provisions of NHRC and sought to dismiss the complaint.
On completion of trial, SHRC member D. Jayachandran said the duty doctor had confirmed that Velmurugan was assaulted by two male and a woman police personnel. On April 21, 2009, Rasiya and Murugan appeared before the judicial magistrate, Ilayangudi.
The member held that police personnel had tortured Velmurugan. This was a gruesome act and a worst example of cruelty and lawlessness amounting to violation of right to life of the victim.
The member said since the victim suffered the humiliation at the hands of the police, which amounts to violation of his right, personal, liberty and dignity, he is entitled to get compensation of Rs 75,000. State shall recover Rs 25,000 each from the police.
