Chennai: The State Human Rights Commission has directed former DSP, an inspector and two SIs of Anti-Land Grabbing Special Cell, Salem, to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to a 71-year old woman on charge of harassing and arresting her on a false case.
The cops, colluding with land grabbers, assaulted the woman and her 85-year-old husband in 2012. In the petition, Vasantha of Nungambakkam
submitted that she had dispute with her step nephews Jaganathan and Raghunathan of Sentharapatti over their ancestral property in Kondayampalli in Salem district. A civil suit filed by her has been pending before subordinate judge, Atthur.
Jaganathan and Raghunathan regularly engaged in quarrel with the aged couple. A case was registered against them in Thammpatti police station. In August 2011, Mohan Kumar, DSP, Raju, inspector, Thangaraj, SI and Bagyalakshmi, SI of Anti-Land Grabbing Special Cell, Salem, summoned Dharmalingam for an inquiry and after discussing with the couple the cops directed them to seek remedy in the civil court.
In the night of April 5, 2012, the cops rushed to their native Kondayampalli and dragged Vasantha out of her house to the police station for an enquiry. They abused her and her husband. The cops assaulted her after tying her hands with a rope. After obtaining her signatures on blank papers, the cops arrested her on false case and remanded her to prison.
In their reply, the cops denied the allegations. Jaganathan gave a complaint before the Anti-Land Grabbing Special Cell, Salem against Vasanth and others stating that the couple grabbed 23 acres of land belonged to him and his brother Raghunathan. They performed their duties as per law and not violated their human rights.
judge D Jayachandran said the cops registered a FIR on a false complaint, which was forged with the help of the police. The arrest and remand was illegal. The cops tortured Dharmalingam without considering his age. Directing the cops to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, the judge recommended the government to initiate departmental action against them and criminal proceeding against them.
