Blaming Sathankulam cops for son’s death, woman seeks HC help

S Vadivu, a resident of Asirvadhapuram, Sathankulam, Thoothukudi district, in her petition, which came up for hearing before Justice R. Pongiappan, claimed that her son Mahendran (28) was illegally detained in connection with the murder of Jeyakumar of Peikulam, which reportedly took place on May 18 this year. He was thrashed by the personnel of Sathankulam police station, including Inspector Srithar and Sub Inspector Raghuganesh, who have been suspended and jailed in connection with the custodial deaths of P Jeyaraj (58) and his son Bennix (31) last month, after which he succumbed to injuries.

It may be pointed out that though Mahendran’s name was not included in the FIR filed by the police based on a complaint from Aalikumar, brother of Jeyakumar, the Sathankulam police took him into custody illegally on May 22 and detained him for two days till May 24. While in illegal detention, Mahendran, was beaten up by suspended cops Srithar and Raghuganesh. Later, he was admitted to Thoothukudi GH on June 11. The CT scan take at the hospital showed blood clot in his brain possibly from the police attack. His condition turned critical and Mahendran died on June 13.

The petitioner said that the police later arrested her elder son Durai alos for the murder.

Then Raghuganesh threatened Vadivu that her elder son Durai would not be spared, if she spoke about the death of Mahendran to anyone. A panicked Vadivu, claimed that she had no other option than receiving the Mahendran’s body without a post mortem or FIR. Now the petitioner aged 65 years, seeking a thorough probe into the custodial death of her son. As thestate government counsel sought time, the judge posted the case to July 21.