The mysterious death of a father and son in Kovilpatti sub-jail, one after the other on June 22 and June 23, has raised serious concerns over police brutality in Tamil Nadu. Shops have downed shutters in Thoothukudi district's Sathankulam and people have gathered to protest in the bus stand area, demanding swift action against police officers.
58-year-old Jayarajan and his 31-year-old son Bennix, who used to run a woodwork shop and a mobile shop in Sathankulam, were arrested by the police on June 19 for allegedly violating lockdown timings. Two days later, the duo were taken to Kovilpatti sub-jail, over 100 km away, since the other sub-jails in the vicinity were unable to take in more occupants.
On June 22, Bennix complained of chest pain and fainted in the jail premises, following which he was rushed to the government hospital in Kovilpatti where he succumbed. Soon after, on Tuesday morning his father’s condition too worsened and he died at about 4.30 am at Kovilpatti Government Hospital.
Thoothukudi Superintendent of Police (SP) Arun Balagopalan told reporters that both father and son had other health issues and that was the reason for their deaths.
Meanwhile, DMK chief MK Stalin and Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi expressed their condemnation towards the incident.
“I have urged the District Collector to investigate the incident and take stern action on those involved. Further, the family of the deceased should be given proper compensation,” Kanimozhi tweeted while Stalin wrote, “In times of a crisis will an argument take the life of a person?”
தூத்துக்குடி மாவட்டம் சாத்தான்குளத்தை சேர்ந்த தந்தை மகனான ஜெயராஜ் மற்றும் பென்னிக்ஸ் ஆகிய இருவரையும் காவல்துறையினர் விசாரணைக்கு அழைத்து சென்ற நிலையில் உயிரிழந்திருக்கின்றனர். காவல்துறையினர் தாக்கியதில் இந்த உயிரிழப்பு நடந்திருக்கும் என பலத்த சந்தேகம் எழுகிறது. 1/2
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) June 23, 2020
இந்த சம்பவத்தை முறையாக விசாரித்து சம்பந்தப்பட்டவர்கள் மீது கடுமையான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரிடம் வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளேன். மேலும், உயிரிழந்தோர் குடும்பத்திற்கு உரிய இழப்பீடு வழங்க வேண்டும். 2/2
— Kanimozhi (கனிமொழி) (@KanimozhiDMK) June 23, 2020
சாத்தான்குளத்தில் காவல்துறை அழைத்துச் சென்ற ஜெயராஜ் அவரது மகன் பென்னீக்ஸ் இருவருமே இறந்துவிட்டார்கள் என்பது அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 23, 2020
நெருக்கடி காலத்தில் வாய்த்தகராறுக்கும் உயிர் பறிப்பா?
உள்துறையைக் கையில் வைத்திருக்கும் @CMOTamilNadu பதிலளிக்க வேண்டும்; உரிய நீதியும் வேண்டும்! pic.twitter.com/LF1Q9Raudh
A First Information Report has been filed in Kovilpatti for further investigation. Speaking to TNM, Kovilpatti Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kalaikathiravan said, “The inquest will be done by the Kovilpatti Magistrate. A team of doctors are conducting their postmortem."
On Tuesday afternoon, two sub Inspectors from Sathankulam station were suspended and the remaining police officers too were transferred. Thoothukudi Collector held talks with the protestors and the family members of the deceased and assured action following which the protests were called off.
(This is a developing story)