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Ahead of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s visit to Madurai on Monday, September 28, the parents of Akash Delison, a victim of custodial torture, were placed under house detention for two days amid concerns that they could disrupt the CM’s convoy.
Akash, a 26-year-old Dalit man from the Devendrakula Vellalar community, died on March 8 while undergoing treatment at the Government Rajaji Hospital in the city after allegedly being subjected to police torture.
The accused are Inspector Dileepan, Sub-Inspector Guhan and Grade-I Constables S Kaleeswaran, P Mahendran, L Deivendran and B Palaniyappan. The police chargesheet said that the accused had deliberately killed Akash after learning about his Dalit identity.
Speaking to TNM, Akash’s father Rajesh Kannan said that police personnel were stationed outside their house for two days ahead of Vijay’s visit.
“For the past two days, our house was under police siege. When they tried to detain Lenin from the bus stop yesterday, I staged a protest threatening to self-immolate. Only after my protest did the Superintendent instruct the policemen to detain Lenin at my house,” Rajesh said. Lenin is an activist assisting the family in pursuing the case.
According to Rajesh, around 15 police personnel and three police jeeps were stationed outside their house.
“They did not allow anyone to leave the house. Only after I pleaded with them saying that I have to run my biryani shop did they allow me alone to operate amidst security. Only at 7 pm did they free us from detention,” he said.
Rajesh said the police told him that they had been placed under house detention because they feared the family could disturb the Chief Minister’s programme. CM Vijay had visited Madurai to launch the Thaimaaman Thanga Mothiram scheme.
Akash’s parents had previously raised black flags against Vijay over the lack of justice in their son’s death.
“Why would I protest if my son receives justice?” Rajesh asked.
Akash died on March 8 after giving a detailed account of the police torture. His family had initially refused to collect his body, demanding action against the police personnel accused of assaulting him.
As the parents remained firm in their decision, the Madras High Court directed the police to cremate Akash’s body. The decision caused anguish to the family, who had been demanding action against those responsible for his death.
A postmortem examination found more than two dozen injuries on his body, along with multiple internal injuries.
Meanwhile, the six police personnel accused in Akash’s death were recently granted bail by the Sivaganga district court. The court directed each of the six accused to pay Rs 20,000 and furnish two sureties within 20 days. The trial has been adjourned to October 9.
