Officer probing Chennai encounter killings, Kancheepuram custodial torture shunted out of TN human rights panel

CHENNAI: A Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) deputed to the State Human Rights Commission, who was investigating the three encounter killings by the Greater Chennai City Police and the custodial torture of a duo accused of murdering a woman inspector, was shunted out to the Prohibition and Enforcement Wing, Mayiladuthurai, on October 10.

The officer, M Sundaresan, was tasked with submitting reports in the three cases involving alleged police excesses, including the encounter killings in the last three months since the change of guard at the top of city police, said sources.

"The secretary, SHRC, is requested to relieve the DSP after making necessary additional charge arrangements with instruction to assume charge of the new post forthwith," the transfer order from Tamil Nadu Police headquarters stated.

The order added: "If the transferee enters on leave on medical grounds, he may be referred to the medical board." It also said that the date of relieving the DSP from the present and the date of his joining the new post should be intimated to the headquarters early.

Meanwhile, Chennai city police Commissioner A Arun who was summoned to appear before the commission on Monday (October 14) in connection with the encounter killings, did not turn up. Instead, a representative from the Greater Chennai City Police appeared before the commission seeking to postpone the city top cop’s appearance to a later date, sources added.

The commission chairman, former Kerala High Court Chief Justice S Manikumar, had initiated suo motu proceedings into the alleged extra-judicial killing and directed the investigation wing to probe and submit a report. He had also directed the Commissioner to appear.

In the alleged torture of MDMK district secretary E Valayapathi (65) and an electrician, Prabhu (52), by the Kancheepuram district police who are accused of murdering a 63-year-old woman police inspector, the commission had initiated inquiries based on their kin's complaint.

According to human rights group Joint Action Against Custodial Torture (JAACT), Valayapathi and Prabhu were detained in a dilapidated police quarters at Nathapettai and brutally beaten by personnel in civvies to force them to confess to the murder.

Such was the alleged brutality of the assault that Prabhu’s internal organs were damaged and he is still under treatment since August 28 at the Chengalpattu Government Hospital.

Valayapathi, who was lodged in Vellore central prison, fell unconscious after which he was moved to Vellore GH. Since being released on bail, he has been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Selaiyur.