Custodial torture case: Women seek CBI probe

TIRUPATI: The custodial torture case filed against six police personnel from the Puthalapattu police station in Chittoor district by a set of five women, in relation to a theft case, has taken a serious turn.

The Tamil Pazhangudi Kuravan Sangam along with the victims met Tamil Nadu DGP Shankar Jiwal and pleaded with him to transfer the case to CBI to ensure an unbiased investigation. The five women were from the Kuravan community. The incidents occurred at the Puthalapattu police station between June 7 and 12.

As per the case, about ten persons including two minors had been detained by the Puthalapattu police for questioning in connection with a gold theft case. Two of them reportedly confessed to the crime and were sent to remand, while the others were released.

However, upon reaching their native Krishnagiri, the released women approached the joint action committee against custodial torture and alleged that the police resorted to custodial torture and sexual abuse. Following this, Chittoor SP Rishanth Reddy ordered an investigation and six policemen were arrested by the Chittoor 2-town police.

Further complicating the case, R Sathya, a Kuravan woman from Puliyandapatti junction road, claimed she was subjected to custodial torture. She submitted a petition to Krishnagiri SP, Saroj Thakur on July 13, alleging that she was being pressurised by Uthangarai and Mathur police to withdraw her complaint against the Andhra police.

Detailing the sequence of events and the alleged mistreatment by the police, Sathya in her petition stated, “On June 11, my brother and three others, including a minor boy, were abducted by unknown persons. The next day, I filed an online complaint with TN police. That night, some people detained me and my husband. It was later revealed that it was the Chittoor police that detained us. Of these, two were kept in custody and the others were released on June 16. On the same day, the police took me to Uthangarai All Women Police Station, where they coerced me to withdraw the complaint filed against the Andhra police.”

The Chittoor district police maintains that the investigative officers were conducting an impartial probe. According to SP Rishanth Reddy, the police had launched an investigation into a series of thefts in the district and detained the suspects from neighbouring Tamil Nadu. “Among the suspects, Vaira Muthu and Ayyappa were arrested and sent to remand while the remaining suspects -- including six women -- were transferred to the custody of Uthangarai DSP.”

“The next day, after release, the suspects were admitted to a hospital due to their ill health. At the hospital, revenue officials interrogated them in the theft case. The suspects said the Chittoor police did not mistreat them during the questioning.” “However, two days later, some individuals influenced them to file a complaint against the Chittoor police. A case was registered against the Puthalapattu police. We are now conducting an impartial investigation,” the SP claimed.

It is alleged by the victims that the case is not moving forward. The Tamil Pazhangudi Kuravan Sangam met the TN DGP, seeking his intervention in the case and transfer of the case to CBI. State president of the Sangam, Ramesh, expressed disappointment with the lack of action taken so far and the failure of the police force of both the states to provide justice to the victims.