6 cops arrested over TN custodial death
CB-CID OFFICIALS CONFIRMED THE ARREST OF THE SIX, INCLUDING A HOME GUARD, AND SAID ALL ACCUSED WERE PRODUCED BEFORE A COURT AND REMANDED
Press Trust of India
CHENNAI: Six policemen have been arrested by the Crime Branch-cid police on Saturday in connection with the alleged custodial death of V Vignesh last month, senior police officers familiar with the development said on Saturday.
Initially, a case of suspicious death was registered following the death of 25-year-old Vignesh. Later after an autopsy report, which indicated 13 injuries on the body of Vignesh who died on April 19, the case was altered to that of murder.
CB-CID officials confirmed the arrest of the six, including a home guard. The six were produced before a court in Chennai and remanded. Two of them were arrested on Friday while four others were arrested on Saturday, they said.
On the night of April 18, Vignesh and his friend G Suresh (28), who were travelling in an autorickshaw, were stopped by a police team for a routine check in Chennai’s Kellys area. As per police, Vignesh was found in possession of ganja and liquor. Police had earlier said they had tried to escape from the spot and also attempted to attack a cop brandishing a knife, so they were arrested and taken to Secretariat police station. The following day, Vignesh developed seizures after breakfast and the doctors declared him “brought dead.”
A police sub-inspector, a constable and a member of the home guards were suspended and probe was initially into suspicious death of the suspect. The case was handed over to the CB-CID following an outcry against custodial deaths.
Arun Halder, vice-chairman of the National Commission of Scheduled Castes, who conducted an inquiry on Wednesday into the death of Vignesh, had said the Prevention of Atrocity Act was subsequently added.