S.’s relatives organized Sabari Varman, an on-trial prisoner who died in the sub-jail, protested overnight demanding a second autopsy and an independent investigation, while opposition parties criticized the Tamil Nadu government over its handling of the case.
A day after Sabari Varman, 35, a disabled shopkeeper from Ethankadu in Nagercoil, died in judicial custody on July 13, police arrested three prison staff, including the chief prison guard, and placed them under suspension after an autopsy report indicated 19 injuries on the victim’s body, including his elbows, forearms, knees and legs.
Read also: An inmate dies in Nagercoil prison, and his family members have alleged that he was tortured
A case has been registered against eight prison inmates in connection with the death of the disabled shopkeeper, a senior police official said, adding that the prison staff were arrested based on CCTV footage and eyewitness accounts.
The family members who refused to receive the body staged an all-night protest in front of the Asaripalam Government Medical College Hospital here, demanding a second autopsy and an independent investigation.
The incident sparked a backlash from opposition parties with DMK MP Kanimozhi criticizing the police and the government over the handling of the case. She visited the affected families and consoled them on Wednesday evening.
Taking strong exception to the alleged “police brutality” at Nagercoil sub-jail, Kanimozhi said, “Even three days after this custodial death, there has been no explanation or statement from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.”
She later said in a post on Channel
The official said that other inmates assaulted Sabari Farman in his cell at around 12 midnight on July 13 for making loud noise, after which prison staff allegedly intervened and beat the victim.
BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran called it a “horrible incident” and claimed that custodial deaths that occurred during the DMK regime seem to be continuing. The Chief Minister should take immediate steps to restore law and order in the state, he told reporters.
CPI(M) legislator R Chellaswamy said the victim’s relatives told him that they were dissatisfied with the autopsy report and requested another autopsy.
PKK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss demanded an investigation by the CBI.
According to police, Varman was arrested by Thenthamaraikulam police for allegedly selling banned gutkha on July 9. About 200 grams of banned tobacco products were confiscated from the Sabari Farman shop, police said.
