Criminal prosecution likely against cops for violating human rights

The petition was filed by R Nagarajan, a resident of Gundaveli. During the temple festival in the village, the priest did not go to Nagarajan’s shed to show the deity and Nagarajan objected to it. Nagarajan alleged in his complaint that Sub Inspector Nandakumar and head constable Jayakumar who were present there attacked him with lathi resulting in injuries. Eventually, he was taken to the police station and they filed a false complaint and remanded him to judicial custody. “He was attacked by police officials due to which he sustained injuries but he was not given medical treatment. He was not even provided food and water,” the petition read. Countering this, police officials denied the allegations. Inspector Gunasekaran submitted that Kathirvel lodged a complaint and they had arrested Nagarajan.

Recording the submissions, Judge D Jayachandran, acting chairperson of SHRC said that the police officials had taken the law into their hands and assaulted and arrested Nagarajan without following the guidelines. “He is entitled to receive compensation of Rs 5 lakh and government shall initiate disciplinary action against three officials as per the rules. Further, we recommend the government to initiate criminal prosecution for brutal attack and torture of Nagarajan,” said the judge.