Rahul Gandhi expresses grief, regret over death of Tuticorin father-son duo

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday (June 28) expressed grief and regret over the death of a father-son duo in Tuticorin, allegedly after being thrashed by the police and demanded justice for the two.

He said he could not visit Sathankulam, where the incident happened last week, to personally comfort the family due to the COVID-19 situation.

In an SMS sent to the party’s Shakti platform members in Tuticorin district, he said, “let us agitate till those responsible for this (deaths) are punished.”

“I was aggrieved over and regret the police action that was responsible for the death of Jayaraj and Bennicks,” he said, according to a release issued by TNCC chief KS Alagiri.

He urged the members to light a candle at 7 pm today as a mark of remembrance for the “deceased brothers” and pay tributes to them.

Related news: Tuticorin custodial death case to be transferred to CBI: Palaniswami

“I could not come in person to comfort (the family of the deceased) due to the COVID-19 situation,” he added.

P Jayaraj and his son Bennicks, arrested for violating lockdown norms over business hours of their cell phone shop, died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on June 23, with their relatives alleging they were severely thrashed at the Sathankulam police station by police personnel earlier.

The incident has triggered a national furore, leading to the suspension of four policemen, including two Sub-Inspectors.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Sunday said the government has decided to transfer the probe into the deaths, to the CBI.