Chennai: Cop suspended for warning of custodial torture in FB comment

CHENNAI: A police constable from the armed reserve (AR) wing was suspended on Sunday for a posting a message on social media threatening those who criticized the Sathankulam twin custodial deaths.
The custodial deaths of father-son Jayaraj and Beniks in Tuticorin district has drawn criticism nationwide. While several traders had downed shutters condemning the police brutality, members of the milk vendor’s association on Sunday took to Facebook to state they will not supply milk to police personnel and their families.
M Sathish Muthu, an AR police constable in Chennai, commented on the post saying, “We were looking for people to be victims of another custodial death and now we have found you. (It is time to check) If you guys have rectum”, referring to the torture meted out to the father and son.
Soon after, the comment went viral and was picked up on by senior police officials who ordered for an inquiry. The post was removed within 2 hours. During the initial inquiry, Sathish told his higher ups that he did not post the comment. A senior police officer privy to the inquiry said, “Muthu maintained that he had given his Facebook ID and password to several friends and that one of them posted the comment without his knowledge. He’s been suspended for being irresponsible and for bringing shame to the department.” A detailed inquiry is on.