Chennai: CPI (M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan on Sunday sought arrest of Pallikaranai inspector Nataraj and sub-inspector Ravi for sexually assaulting a young woman who took part in the protest organised by the Democratic Youth Federation of India on Saturday and demanded the immediate release of 14 persons remanded in Puzhal prison.
Speaking to reporters here, Mr Ramakrishnan said that when sub-inspector Ravi sexually assaulted a young woman who participated in the protest on Medavakkam-Mambakkam Road, DYFI members strongly protested police action. But police brutally attacked nine DYFI members and took them in a police van. Without stopping anywhere they continued to beat them up, he said, adding that while other protesters were arrested and taken to a marriage hall. Later police had taken the DYFI’s South Chennai secretary alone from the marriage hall, he said.
After the whereabouts of the nine DYFI members and the district secretary remained unclear, about 200 CPI (M) and DYFI members gathered at the marriage hall asking the assistant commission Govindaraju about those taken in the police van.
However, he said that police inspector Natraj along with others who came in four vehicles brutally attacked those cadres who went to see the arrested comrades, he said. The police also attacked the bystanders and public who were passing by, he noted. The police also took away the camera of Theekkathir reporter cum photographer and returned it after deleting the photos following the protest by journalists.
Mr Ramakrishnan alleged that the police has launched the brutal attack on his party cadres as the party brought to light lockup deaths in Kannagi Nagar, Thuraipakkam, Pallikaranai, Semencheri and Velachery in the recent past. He demanded the arrest of the inspector and sub-inspector for sexual assault and immediate release of 14 persons who were remanded in the prison. He urged the state government to take appropriate steps stop the police from launching such attacks on those protesting democratically.
