MADURAI
In a shocking incident, a 28-year-old man, who was taken to the police station for interrogation, reportedly died in custody on Saturday.
Following protests from the family and relatives of the deceased, the police registered a case under Section 176 Cr. PC (inquiry by a magistrate).
Manikandan, an auto driver of Palanganatham, was engaged in a quarrel with a group of auto drivers on Friday night.
The Karimedu police, who had received information about a brawl, picked him and two other auto drivers for interrogation.
Shortly, after a warning, they were let off. Manikandan, who came back from the police station, allegedly created a ruckus in the area and assaulted an old man, resulting in head injury to the passerby.
Following this, the Karimedu police took Manikandan into custody on Friday night. On Saturday morning, he was allegedly found in an unconscious state in police custody. Following this, Manikandan was rushed to the Government Rajaji Hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead.
As it is suspected to be a case of custodial death, the relatives and parents of Manikandan protested near the mortuary and blocked the road outside the GRH, demanding that a case of custodial death be registered and action taken against the police officials responsible for his death. They also demanded compensation from the government for the “brutal murder.”
A case under Section 176 Cr. P. C. was filedafter senior police officials and the Collector held talks with the relatives.
Manikandan, according to a senior police officer, is a history sheeter and there are cases of assault and attempt to murder pending against him in at least four police stations in Madurai city.