T.N. directed to grant relief in custodial death case

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, JULY 9. Shocked at the incident of custodial death of a youth at the Madurantakam sub-jail in Tamil Nadu a year ago, the National Human Rights Commission has directed the State Government to pay Rs. 1 lakh as immediate interim relief to the next kin of the deceased.

The Commission also directed the State Government to submit within four weeks the final report on the investigation, along- with all the medical reports and details on the medical examination of the victim at the time of being lodged in the jail. According to a complaint sent by the wife of the deceased, her husband, Joseph, was remanded to judicial custody and sent to the sub-jail, where he reportedly sustained multiple injuries. He was taken to the Madurantakam Government Hospital in a critical condition and later shifted to Chengalpattu Medical College Hospital where he was declared dead.

In response to the notice issued by the Commission, the Government sent a report stating that the initial inquiry had shown that the death could have been caused by beating and injuries were received four days prior to death. Not satisfied with this report, the Commission has now sought the full report from the Government.

In another incident, the Commission directed the State Government to pay Rs. 25,000 as immediate interim relief to a Scheduled Caste labourer, of Seedayampatti village in Madurai district, who suffered police torture and brutality.

According to the complaint received by the Commission from a person, Mr. Subbiah, he and seven others were arrested. He was badly beaten up and sexually harassed and later released on bail after he suffered a fracture.

Thereafter, 100 members of his community had gathered near the Chinnmanoor police station to demand action against police atrocities at Kodiyankulam. The Sub Inspector had threatened that if they indulged in strikes, he would make Seedayampatti village another Kodiyankulam.

The Commission considered the report incomplete as it was silent on the police action. The Government has now been directed to send the full report within four weeks on the progress of the cases registered against the complainant.

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Section  : National
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