Jaya acts after custodial death & political interference hit image

CHENNAI: The AIADMK government has initiated an inquiry against policemen following a custodial death in Madurai district, in line with the image of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s no-nonsense approach to issues related to law and order. The custodial death was reported from Oommachikulam police station in Madurai district. The dead man was identified as Markandeyan.

“An inquiry by a judicial magistrate is on,” Madurai collector U Sahayam told ET. Reports of the custodial death and AIADMK men being freed from police custody in the capital this week following the intervention of senior politicians had smudged the party’s image. Madurai district police chief Asra Garg said four policemen, including a sub-inspector , have been suspended in connection with the custodial death. “The inquiry will ascertain the circumstances of death and who were responsible ,” Garg said.

The Director of the Tamil Nadu Programme on Human Rights and Democracy , CJ Rajan, said his organisation had demanded action against those responsible for the death of Markandeyan. This was the first custodial death after the Jayalalithaa government was sworn in last month. Rajan said 48 people had died in police custody over the past five years when DMK was in power. Police in Chennai had a different problem to tackle on Sunday night when Information Minister G Senthamizhan and P Valarmathi, MLA, turned up at the Numbgambakkam police station after some AIADMK workers were taken to the station following an argument with the police.

The party men were released after the intervention by the minister and MLA. A police official said the “problem was solved through discussions ,” and that there was no case against them. Rajan said the incident showed AIADMK was adopting the DMK style in its policing.