TUTICORIN: The role played by Sathankulam head constable Revathy in exposing the torture unleashed by her fellow police personnel on P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks has now turned crucial to the progress of the case. Her testimony before the judicial magistrate turned out to be the first person account of the torture the victims suffered for two days before their death.
“I spoke according to my conscience. I am ready to say it anywhere,” she told reporters. Hailed as a hero when her male colleagues were party to the crime or had decided to stay silent, the cop, has now sought protection for her and her family. She said she was aware that she would be questioned in connection with the issue when the victims died. “I hope those involved get their due,” she said adding that she has sought protection for herself, her husband and two daughters from the Madras HC and
Tuticorin district collector Sandeep Nanduri.
Recalling the incident, her husband Santhosh told reporters that on June 19 his wife started from home at 7pm. On reaching the station at 8.30pm, she told him, “I am yet to enter the station but they are beating someone.” Around 10pm, he called her again when she said the cops were beating a man and his son. “The father (Jeyaraj) asked for water and she gave,” he said.
He recalled that around midnight he spoke to her again when she said that they were beaten again and were bleeding. After the duo died, she was worried as she was on station duty that night and was sure to be questioned. “We are ready to speak the truth. The worst case is they could dismiss her from service. I asked her not to worry and to tell the truth,” he said.
District collector Sandeep Nanduri told TOI that the SP has provided one constable each to the head constable and her husband for protection.