Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the dean of the Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital to constitute a team of doctors to examine the physical condition of a vernacular journalist who alleged that he was illegally detained and subjected to torture by three police personnel of Abiramapuram police station.
Justice V. Ramasubramanian also directed the doctors to note down the physical condition of J Umapathi, a reporter of Puratchi Periyar Muzhakkam, a Tamil weekly, the treatment already given to him and the treatment required to be administered. The judge directed the dean to file a report on December 3, regarding the medical condition of Umapathi at the time of his admission and as on the date of submission of the report. The dean shall continue to administer the treatment necessary for Umapathi, the judge added.
After additional government pleader P. Sanjaigandhi took notice for the state government, the judge passed the interim order and posted to December 3 further hearing.
The petitioner sought directions to the authorities to transfer the investigation to the CB-CID and order disciplinary action against sub-inspectors Illayaraja and Kalaiselvi and head constable Vadivelu of Abiramapuram police station, who had assaulted him. He also sought a compensation of Rs 25 lakh.
The reporter reportedly took photographs of police behaving harsly with women on November 26 during a civic protest in Mylapore following which the police nabbed and hit him mercilessly.
