Burglary case suspect dies in custody, inspector suspended

Though the police claimed that the deceased M Jayakumar and two others K Ajith Kumar (19) and Vignesh Kumar (23) were taken to police station for inquiry only on Friday, their kin alleged that they were picked up for interrogation three days ago.

Jayakumar, who resided along with family members on a pavement in Mannadi, is club-footed, said his parents. He had been working at a hardware store in Parry’s Corner. Jayakumar was brought to RGGGH after police said he suffered a seizure around 2 am on Saturday. But the doctors there declared him brought dead. Protesters, including the parents, said that he was beaten to death.

Sabeer Fatnawala (52) of Muthumari Street in Mannadi on December 17 lodged a complaint at Esplanade police station that 8.5 sovereigns and cash were burgled from his house when he was out of town for two days. Police said the fingerprints collected from the house matched with that of Ajith Kumar, a previous offender from Sembudoss Street in Parry’s Corner. “While examining his makeshift tent, the police personnel could not find any clue of the stolen valuables,” said a seniorpolice officer.

Though police could not retrieve the stolen valuables, Jayakumar and Vignesh Kumar of Korukkupet were picked up apparently based on the former’s confession. Police said that Jayakumar hatched the burglary plan with the other two as the house is located in the fourth floor of the same building in which the hardware shop where he is employed is located. Ajith Kumar burgled the house and Vignesh kept a vigil waiting outside the building, said the police.

After the parents, Manivannan and Vasanthi, were informed about Jayakumar’s death, their relatives gathered in front of the police station as well as the hospital demanding action against police personnel.

The Esplanade crime inspector Gunasekaran, who was initially transferred to the vacancy reserve by the additional commissioner (north) R Dhinakaran as per the orders of Commissioner AK Viswanathan, was suspended later on Saturday. The post-mortem examination was performed in the presence of a magistrate and the procedure was videographed. The body was handed over to the parents in the afternoon and the funeral is expected to be held on Sunday.