Education department employee ends life in lock-up

Chennai: A government employee of the state education department, who was detained for assaulting his neighbour, was found dead inside the lockup at Chunambedu police station in Kancheepuram on Wednesday. The deceased, Sitrarasu (45) hung himself inside the lockup using his innerwear in the early hours, police sources said.

The cops detained Sitrarasu on Tuesday after he ran into a fight with his neighbours over land disputes and the neighbour, Navammal, lodged a complaint at the Chunambedu police station saying he had hit her.

At around 3.30 pm, he was taken into custody and was detained in the lock up for the night owing to women involved in crime. Two hours later, he was found hanging from the ceiling.

Sitrarasu is survived by his wife and two children. When his body was sent to Madhuranthakam government hospital for post-mortem, his family protested saying he was murdered and this was not a case of suicide. Later, his body was shifted to Chengelpet medical college hospital, but the family and members of education department said they would not take the body till an investigation is undertaken.

Kancheepuram SP, Santhosh Haidmeni is currently investigating into the issue. It was told that he would examine CCTV camera footage. The police registered a case under Section 176 (custodial death) of the CrPC and forwarded the case for a magisterial enquiry.