After Jeyraj-Bennicks deaths, youth alleges custodial torture by Santhankulam cops

In another allegation of custodial torture against the Santhankulam Police in Tuticorin, a youth has said that he was assaulted in custody for days together by cops of the police station and sustained grievous injuries as a result.

According to ANI, Martin, a resident of Taikka Street in Sathakulam has alleged that he was beaten up and later taken to the police station by Inspector Xavier and Assistant Inspector Raja on August 23. He said he was taken to the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital next day after sustaining severe injuries due to the torture.

Martin said he was kept in custody from August 24 to 28 before being produced before a judicial magistrate, who granted him bail on the request of his lawyer.

Martin’s family has demanded strict action against the involved cops for torturing him and asked the state government to compensate for the same.

Related news: Tension grips TN’s Tuticorin district due to custodial deaths of father-son duo

The incident comes in the wake of the custodial death of father-son duo Jeyraj and Bennicks in June. Jeyraj, 55 and his son J Bennicks, 31, were arrested on June 19 for allegedly keeping their mobile phone shop open during the COVID lockdown and allegedly tortured in police custody. Both later succumbed to their injuries.

The case created ripples across the country, and was soon handed over to the CBI for probe. The Madurai bench of the Madras High Court has informed that the probe agency has filed a status report on the case in a sealed cover. The next hearing of the case is on September 7.