One More Custodial Death; Family Alleges Torture
A 26-year-old man died after police custody in Thoothukudi, with his family alleging custodial torture.
In yet another case of custodial death in the State, a 26-year-old salesman at a Tasmac outlet, who was detained by the Thoothukudi South police on July 17 for questioning, died on Thursday morning, with his family alleging custodial torture.
The youth N Arunachalam, a resident of Amutha Nagar, who was taken into custody for questioning over the alleged illegal sale of liquor bottles, was admitted to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital on July 18, police said.
After five days of treatment, Arunachalam died. The police claimed that 120 liquor bottles found in his possession were seized.
Family members of the deceased claimed that the police brutally assaulted him at the station during custody, causing severe injuries to his body.
Prior to his death at the hospital, he had claimed that three or four personnel beat him causing injuries, said the affected family, which staged a demonstration in front of the hospital, refusing to accept the body.
Demanding action on those responsible for the death Arunachalam's mother, Parameswari, told reporters that her son sustained grievous injuries on the head and legs due to the police assault.
"A FIR should be registered against the police who attacked my son and they should be arrested to ensure us justice," she said.
