Hundreds of residents of Manjanaickenpatti village blocked Natham-Dindigul Main Road on Tuesday, condemning the death of an accused hailing from their village at Madurai Central Prison on Monday.
The deceased was Kuppusamy (51) of Manjanaickenpatti village in Sanarpatti union. Traffic was disrupted on this road for two hours, with vehicles getting stranded in both directions. More than 100 armed police personnel were deployed to bring the situation under control.
Relatives of the accused alleged that the police summoned Kuppusamy to come to Sanarapatti police station four days ago. When he went to the police station, the police arrested him on a charge of selling arrack and lodged him in Dindigul prison.
When the relatives contacted the police, they said the accused was shifted to Madurai Central Prison. The relatives tried to contact him in Madurai. Meanwhile, the police informed them that Kuppusamy died in Madurai prison after a brief illness on Monday, they added.
Revenue officials held talks with the protesters and assured them that they would conduct an inquiry in this connection, following which they withdrew the blockade.
