Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, assured safety of all in jails on Tuesday. He said henceforth, no custodial deaths will happen in the state. The accused in custody won’t be tortured physically or mentally, he said.
Speaking at the Assembly today, Stalin said that instructions have been given to prevent custodial deaths. “This government does not try to hide anything. Adequate instructions have been given to prevent custodial deaths in future. Henceforth, I assure you that no custodial death will happen in Tamil Nadu.”
This call of the state government comes after six officers of Crime Branch-Crime Investigative Department (CB-CID) were arrested in connection with the custodial death of Vignesh.
Vignesh’s arrest and subsequent death led to protests in the state. Opposition leaders, activists and residents demanded justice for Vignesh. He died on April 19, while he was in police custody.
Stalin said custodial deaths cannot be justified. No matter which government is ruling over the state, such incidents cannot be justified. Following procedures, those arrested will be presented before a magistrate, he said.
“No matter how many forces try, Tamil Nadu is a garden of social harmony without caste and religious conflict. Whoever attempts to cause religious conflicts will face strict action,” he added.
On April 18, Dalit man named Vignesh died after he and his friend Suresh, were taken into custody by the police. Vignesh made his living on Chennai’s Marina Beach. Vignesh and his friend, according to the police, were arrested as they found ganja and liquor in the duo’s possession. Vignesh had injuries prior to the seizures he got the following morning and this was the cause of death, the police officials have said. The CCTV footage, however, showed Vignesh running with policemen arresting him while showing no indication of a leg fracture as claimed.
The post-mortem report of Vignesh, while not giving a definitive cause of death, has confirmed that the 25-year-old suffered multiple injuries and fractures on his body.
In the autopsy, it was revealed deep muscle injury above the left eye, swelling and contusion on the left cheek filled with blood, and injuries on the back and lower part of the right forearm.
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