Chennai: The State Human Rights Commission, Tamil Nadu, directed the police department to initiate departmental action against an inspector and an SI in Sal
em district for torturing a family in their custody in 2013. The SHRC also directed police to pay compensation of Rs 50,000 to the woman who sustained injuries in the custodial torture.
In her petition, P. Rajathi of Salem district stated that on January 18, 2013, she received a phone call from Malliakarai police station directing her to appear at the station along with her husband Paramasivam, her daughter Pavunammal and her son Ashok for enquiry at 2.00 p.m. When they went to the police station, P.Natarajan, inspector, Thammampatty, Salem district pulled her son's shirt and slapped him on his face repeatedly. S.Sumathi, SI, Ramarajan, head constable, Raja, head constable, Anand and Chellakannu, SSI, assaulted them. The inspector pulled her hair and kicked her on the stomach. She sustained injuries. They were handcuffed, locked in the station and tortured up to 7.00 p.m. They were released on bail only after they gave '4,000 to police. As their complaint to police higher ups did not evoke any response, she filed the petition before the commission seeking suitable action against police personnel for violating their human rights.
Denying the allegations, police stated that Rajathi's daughter-in-law had lodged a complaint against her marital family. They denied any torture and harassment. The arrest card and arrest memo would prove that Rajathi came to the station only at 7 pm and was released on bail. SHRC member D.Jayachandran said that the inspector had categorically admitted that they had not followed due procedure while arresting the family. The arresting officer should record the reasons for the arrest of a lady after sunset. They arrested Rajathi after sunset without any valid reason and tortured her though she had not committed any grave offence like murder, and dacoity. There was no allegation that she would destroy evidence.
