The Hindu : Front Page : Constable on escort duty shoots prisoner to death

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 10, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Constable on escort duty shoots prisoner to death

S. Vijay Kumar

Says he tried to stop two prisoners from escaping

Police suspect it to be revenge killing

CHENNAI: In a suspected case of revenge killing, a Head Constable shot two remand prisoners, who were accused in the murder of his mother, while escorting them to a court near Tiruttani in Tiruvallur district on Thursday.

While one remand prisoner, R. Dhanasekhar (24), died on the spot, the other, V. Seeman (28), escaped with minor injuries. Head Constable R. Murugan (42) was arrested on charges of murder and remanded to judicial custody.

According to police sources, the shooting took place when the Head Constable along with a few other police personnel was taking Dhanasekhar, Seeman and four other accused from the Puzhal central prison to the court.

As the police vehicle was nearing Pattranthangal village, Murugan opened two rounds of fire from his service rifle on the two prisoners.

Dhanasekhar was shot in the neck and died on the spot while Seeman escaped with an injury on his arm.

Murugan claimed that the duo had tried to escape, forcing him to open fire.

“Preliminary enquiries revealed that no attempt was made by the prisoners to escape…the vehicle was moving at good speed. Dhanasekhar and Seeman had killed Murugan’s mother, Muniammal (65), for gain at R.K Pet on September 5 last year,” Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) K. Radhakrishnan told The Hindu. A murder and attempt to murder case was registered against the Head Constable.

Since the incident came under the category of “custodial violence,” a probe by a Revenue Divisional Officer has been ordered. “We will also conduct a departmental enquiry.

Since there was shortage of Armed Reserve policemen, Murugan, attached to the local police, was sent on escort duty. How he was allowed to escort prisoners accused in his mother’s murder case is under investigation. Murugan was the only policeman with a weapon in the vehicle,” Mr. Radhakrishnan said.

Circumstantial evidence

Tiruvallur Superintendent of Police M.C. Sarangan said going by circumstantial evidence the version of Murugan that the prisoners attempted to escape was not “dependable.” The statements of others in the vehicle did not corroborate his claim. The Kanagamma Chathram police have registered a case. Police sources said Dhanasekhar was accused in three murder-for-gain cases. All his three victims were senior citizens.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page