The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : 3 policemen told to pay compensation to woman

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Monday, Mar 17, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

3 policemen told to pay compensation to woman

K.T. Sangameswaran

Her son committed suicide in lock-up
Rights Commission indicts policemen for failure to follow Police Standing Order 636

CHENNAI: The State Human Rights Commission has recommended that three police officials, including a Sub-Inspector, pay Rs.1 lakh in compensation to a woman whose son committed suicide in a lock-up.

The Bench, comprising Justice A.S. Venkatachalamoorthy, chairperson, and Justice S. Thangaraj and K.Mariappan, Members, said the Government should pay the sum to A. Kalyani and recover it equally from G. Senthilkumar, Sub-Inspector, Mannarkudi station, and G. Panneerselvam and V. Jayakumar, head constables of the Palaiyar and Mayiladuthurai stations respectively. Departmental action should also be taken against them.

It held that the policemen had failed to follow the Police Standing Order 636 (Search of Prisoner), leading to the suicide of the victim by hanging.

A. Anjan, of Aakkur in Nagapattinam district, lodged a complaint with the Commission that his brother Senthil, a casual labourer, was taken by a local resident and four-five policemen in a jeep in December 2004.

Later, he came to know that Senthil had died in the police station.

When he and others went there, they saw a ‘lungi’ tied around Senthil’s neck, and both the legs were resting on the floor.

He sought action against the police officials, and compensation.

In his counter, G. Senthilkumar, the then Sub-Inspector of the Sembanarkoil station, said a person produced Senthil alleging that he had tried to snatch a bag.

Case registered

On a complaint, a case was registered, and he was locked up, and put in the custody of Mr. Panneerselvam.

When he returned to the station, he found him hanging in the lock-up.

The Bench said the material available on record showed that the three officials admitted that the victim was in the police station, and after interrogation, he was locked up and at that time, they were present, and later he was found hanging, having used his ‘lungi’ to commit suicide.

Counter statement

The counter statements of the Sub-Inspector and Jayakumar did not mention whether Senthil was locked up with or without ‘lungi.’ Only while tendering evidence did the Sub-Inspector claim that the accused was wearing the inner wear while being put in the lock-up.

The Sub-Inspector and the two constables did not disclose all the facts before the Commission clearly.

Their negligence had allowed Senthil to have the ‘lungi,’ which he used to commit suicide.

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