According to victim R. Antony, 28, of Vallathu Nambikulam near Cheranmahadevi in the district, two policemen – one in uniform and the other in plainclothes – came to his house on Tuesday midnight and asked him to come with them for an inquiry about a case pertaining to a jewellery theft.
“After beating me with hands, they took me to the St. Michael’s Church campus in our village. During interrogation there, they assaulted me. After informing our village head Durai, they took me to an old building behind Veeravanallur police station where they thrashed me with cane. After 30-minute-long beating, they dropped me back at home around 3.30 a.m. saying that I should come to the police station with the village head for inquiry at 10 a.m. on Wednesday,” said Mr. Antony, who is living alone in the village after his parents passed away.
However, a woman from Vallaththu Nambikulam, who came to know about this incident in the morning, alerted the ‘People’s Watch’ that made arrangements to admit him in Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital for treatment.
“He is an orphan... Even though his elder brother is living in the same village and his elder sister is living near Veeravanallur railway station, no one is taking care of Mr. Antony. Now, the elder sister is with him in TVMCH,” said I. Aseervatham, state coordinator of ‘People’s Watch’.
Police said Mr. Antony is involved in several thefts in Cheranmahadevi and other areas.
Superintendent of Police Vishwesh Balasubramaniam Shastri said the suspect was not brought to the police station for any inquiry.
“We’ll record his statement and inquire with him to understand the veracity of the accusations he is making against the police and the charges against him as well,” Mr. Shastri said.