The Madras High Court (HC) on the 26th of June, demanded a report from the Tamil Nadu police regarding the custody of a son and father, P. Jayraj and J. Fenix.
The Madras Court demanded a detailed report of the probe against the twin custody and deaths of the duo, in police custody.
The father and son were arrested on the 19th of June for opening their shop 15 min beyond permitted hours in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu.
The two of them were booked under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant,) 353 (use of force to deter public servant from duty,) 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 506(2) (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC.)
According to sources, in custody, the father and son were allegedly tortured.
Soon they were taken to a hospital where a doctor declared them fit, following which the police demanded judicial custody from Magistrate B. Srinivas.
According to an eye witness, who wished to be anonymous, though the father and son were beaten badly and were bleeding, doctors declared the duo to be fit.
The Sathankulam police then kept the pair under custody after approval of home remand from the magistrate without any physical inspection.
Mr. Fenix’s lawyer was present at the station and explained in detail how brutally police tortured Mr. P. Jayraj and Fenix.
Advocate S. Manimaran, an eyewitness to the brutality said, “We were standing out and we were seeing the whole incident from outside through a glass gate. Fenix and his father were beaten. In the morning there was blood all over the place where they were sitting.” He further added, “I gave them four clothes to change. We had laid down a blanket in the seat of the car when we went to pick them up, Fenix had lost a lot of flesh on his back. He was a well-built man. The car driver was in tears seeing their state. The spot where Fenix sat was covered with blood, the place where Jayaraj was sitting was also all blood. The blankets are still with us. They were beaten to death.”
On the 22nd of June, Jayaraj and his son were produced before the magistrate and the duo were sent to Kovilpatti sub-jail. That same evening, both the father and son were taken to the Kovilpatti Government Hospital.
Fenix died on the 22nd of June and his father died on the 23rd of June.
The incident created rage amongst the citizens of Tamil Nadu against Tuticorin people.
The citizens staged a protest against the cops who are held responsible for the deaths P. Jairaj and J. Fenix.
On the 26th of June, the High Court (HC) bench comprising of Justices P.N. Prakash and B. Pugalendhi took a serious view of the incident and filed a suo motu cognisance of the case.
The Madras High Court also intervened in the matter and ordered the police to submit a report.
Meanwhile, in Tuticorin district of Tamil Nadu a protest triggered demanding justice for Jayaraj (59) and his son J. Fenix Emmanuel (31.)
According to the postmortem report, Fenix and his father died of heart attack and fever respectively. However, people denied to accept the postmortem report claiming death due to heart attack and fever and alleged police brutality a reason for the death.
It has been a week since the incident happened, however, social media platforms and netizens are angry over the police brutality and are demanding strict action against the cops involved in the case.
The family of Fenix and Jayraj also demanded murder charges against the Tamil Nadu police who arrested the duo.
The Madras High Court is reviewing the matter and ordered a probe.
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu State Government announced an ex gratia of Rs. 10 lakh each (20 lakhs) to the family of the deceased and promised a government job as per eligibility of any family member.
The opposition party, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) also announced a compensation of Rs. 25 lakhs to the family.
An investigation in the case against the cops and magistrate approving remand is underway.
Stay tuned for further updates.
