Don't harass kin of jallikattu protesters, says Madras HC

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed the police not to harass the family members of the pro-jallikattu protestors against whom cases were filed in connection with the violence that broke out when the police attempted to disburse the protestors on January 23.

Justice R.Mahadevan also asked the Government Pleader to inform this direction to all the police stations. The judge gave the directive while passing orders on a petition from S.Selvam, who sought a direction to the Arumbakkam police not to harass him for the offences allegedly committed by his son, studying in a college.
 According to petitioner, he is a physically challenged person.

The Arumbakkam police was suspecting the involvement of his son in the recent riots happened in the city on January 23. In fact, his son was a second year college student undergoing NCC camp and training at his college for the last one week. On January 26, the police came to his residence in search of his son and since he was not available, they took him to the police station and tortured him.

The principal and NCC master of the college came to the police station and informed the police that the petitioner’s son was very much available in the NCC camp during the time of riots. However, the police refused to accept their version and continued their torture. Only after the intervention of his advocate, they left him, he added.

Directing that the petitioner should not be called to the station by the police under the guise of inquiry, the judge asked the government pleader to inform all the police stations that the persons against whom cases were registered in connection with the protest should only be called to the police station and not their family members.

Jallikattu enquiry commission: HC dismisses Stalin’s petition

The Madras high court has dismissed as withdrawn, a petition from DMK working president and leader of Opposition M.K.Stalin, which sought a direction to the Union and state governments to constitute a commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge of the high court with a special investigation team consisting of officials from the CBI, National Intelligence Agency and other expert central agencies and medical professions as required by the commission for the purpose of conducting a comprehensive enquiry into the police excesses on January 23 and 24 within the state committed against the protestors and general public in relation to jallikattu protest.