A 24-year-old employee of a state government-run liquor store died on Thursday, days after he was arrested in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, as police denied his family’s allegations of death due to custodial torture.
According to police, N Arunachalam, a resident of Amudha Nagar and a sales representative at a Tasmac (Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation) outlet, was found in possession of 120 liquor bottles of 180 ml each, during a search and was arrested on July 17 for his alleged involvement in the sale of illegal liquor.
He was booked under various sections of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act and was arrested and his family members were informed, police said.
A senior police officer said on July 17 that he was taken to the district government hospital for a medical examination, and the doctor declared that he had no external injuries.
“After the medical examination, he was returned to Thoothukudi South Police Station to complete the legal procedures and was detained along with other accused who were at the police station,” he said.
Pointing out that Arunachalam was regularly talking to other inmates inside the prison, the officer said that he suddenly collapsed inside the prison and the incident was recorded on CCTV cameras located nearby.
The officer said that the police immediately provided first aid, and his mother, who was present at the police station, was also summoned.
Tuticorin Police released CCTV footage that allegedly shows Arunachalam suddenly collapsing inside the police lockup.
“Since his condition appeared to be normal, he was released on bail at the station and sent with his relatives for additional medical examination and this was recorded on the police station’s surveillance camera,” the officer said.
His relatives informed the police that he collapsed again near the hospital and was taken for treatment. “During treatment, he underwent a medical procedure. Despite the treatment, he was declared dead on July 23,” the officer said.
A statement issued by the Tuticorin Police said that after his death, a case was registered based on a complaint filed by his father, and the investigation is ongoing.
Arunachalam’s family members staged a protest, alleging that he died due to custodial torture and was beaten up by three to four police personnel.
The victim’s mother, Parameswari, told reporters that Arunachalam suffered serious injuries to his head and legs due to the police assault. She demanded that an investigation be opened into the circumstances of his alleged death. “I want justice and I will not allow an autopsy on his body until a fair investigation is conducted,” she said.
Former Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) minister and senior party leader Geetha Jeevan met the victim’s family and pacified them.
Commenting on the incident, Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin said: “It is extremely distressing that the young man Arunachalam, who was taken for interrogation in Thoothukudi, died after being assaulted by the police.”
“As the Prime Minister who is in charge of the ministry remains silent without taking strict action during custodial deaths, such incidents continue to occur frequently,” he wrote in a social media post.
