Kin allege custodial death, seek action

The deceased identified as Kuppusamy, a petty shop owner of Sanarpatti in Dindigul district, was arrested recently by police for allegedly selling liquor illegally. Subsequently, Kuppusamy was remanded and lodged in Madurai prison. 

However, on Monday evening, police had called family members and informed them that Kuppusamy had died due to illness in the prison.

But his family members refused to buy the claim of cops and staged dharna in front of Sarpatti police station. They also condemned the cops for arresting him in a false case. 

During the protest, the kin claimed that the policemen had brutally assaulted Kuppusamy in which he sustained serious internal injuries and succumbed. 

“Hence, the personnel involved in the abuse and attack of Kuppusamy should be suspended and proper investigation should be conducted into his death.” The kin also demanded monetary compensation for Kuppusamy’s family.

However, police have refuted the charges of custodial death. A senior police official claimed that Kuppusamy was suffering from nausea and on Monday afternoon he was suffering from serious ailment. 

He was immediately rushed to Madurai GRH, but had died on the way, the police official said. 

Sanarpatti police too corroborated the view of the senior official. A source at Sanarpatti police station claimed that Kuppusamy was weak and suffering from serious ailment even during the time of arrest.