Jayalalithaa government acts swiftly after first custodial death

CHENNAI: A widely-acknowledged feature of AIADMK rule in Tamil Nadu is chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s no-nonsense approach to law and order. This time, though, reports of a custodial death in Madurai district, and that of AIADMK men being freed from police custody in the capital this week through senior politicians’ intervention, have caused an early smudge on the party’s policing record.

The custodial death was reported from the Oommachikulam police station in Madurai district, and the deceased was identified as Markandeyan.

The government has moved quickly following the custodial death, taking action against the policemen allegedly involved in the incident and initiating mandatory inquiry. “An inquiry by the judicial magistrate is on”, Madurai collector U Sahayam told ET.

Madurai district police chief Asra Garg said four policemen had been suspended in connection with the incident, one of who is a sub inspector. “The inquiry will ascertain the circumstances of death, who were responsible and related issues”, Garg said.

CJ Rajan, director of the Tamil Nadu Programme on Human Rights and Democracy said the organisation had demanded action against those responsible for the death of Markandeyan, and that 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 the 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 cadres were taken to the station after 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.

CJ Rajan of the Tamil Nadu Programme on Human Rights and Democracy said the incident showed the AIADMK was adopting the DMK style in its policing. “Earlier, during AIADMK rule politicians would never go to a police station for such matters. But now the party’s style seems to be changing”, he said.