A 24-year-old who was detained by the police in an ATM theft case was found hanging from the cell at the Kattumannarkovil police station on Thursday morning. A magisterial enquiry has been initiated into the matter, police said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Villupuram Range) Santhosh Kumar has ordered the transfer of Inspector Ravindra Raj and put him on compulsory wait and suspended Head constable Paavadaisamy for negligence in connection with the incident.

Police said the deceased identified as M. Vinodh of Rudrasolai in Kattumannarkovil taluk was detained by the police on Wednesday in connection with an ATM theft case. Vinodh had reportedly offered help to one Jagadeesan, 66 to withdraw cash from an ATM in the town and swapped the ATM card.  

Based on a complaint from Jagadeesan, the police detained Vinodh and took him for interrogation to the Kattumannarkovil police station. The team also recovered six ATM card from his house.

On Thursday morning, Vinodh was found hanging from his dhoti from a window grill in the cell. The police rushed him to the Kattumannarkovil General Hospital where he succumbed.  

Tension mounted after irate relatives of Vinodh staged a protest in front of the Kattumannarkovil GH alleging that he had died due to police torture. Senior police officials rushed to the spot and pacified them following which they withdrew their protest.