Compensate for custodial death of Dalit: Federation for People’s Rights

The Federation for People’s Rights (FDR) here on Wednesday urged the administration to provide financial compensation under the Scheduled caste and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of Atrocities) Act to the family of Jayamurthy, who was allegedly assaulted by police and later died in prison.

In a statement here, FDR secretary G Sugumaran said in November 2018, Jayamurthy of Reddichavady was picked up by Bahour police in a motor cycle theft case. He was assaulted at the police station and later sent to the central prison without any treatment.

The jail authorities also failed to provide any treatment to him and was admitted to the government general hospital in a critical condition where he died.

Following a judicial inquiry, the Sub-Inspector and Assistant Sub-inspector of Bahour station, Jail superintendent Bhaskar and Jail doctor Venkat Ramana were suspended. Since Jayamurthy was a Dalit youth, the FDR lodged a complaint with the Police complaints authority to include the SC/ST prevention of atrocities act in the case. Accepting the demand, the case was transferred to the PCR cell and the PCR SP was appointed as the investigation officer.

As per the act, a sum of Rs 8.25 lakh should be provided as compensation in a murder or death case, 50 per cent of which is to be paid after post-mortem and the balance on lodging of an FIR. The PCR police wrote to the Director of the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department on April 1, 2019, to provide compensation. However, no action was taken yet, Sugumaran said.