Martin Premraj, Inspector of Police, Pallikonda was placed under suspension on Sunday in connection with the allegation of custodial torture leading to the death of Shameel Ahmed of Ambur.
Shameel died allegedly due to injuries sustained by him during police enquiry into a woman missing case in the Pallikonda Police Station limits between June 15 and 18.
Mohammed Ghouse, father-in-law of Shameel told The Hindu that Shameel, wanted by the police in connection with the woman missing case in the Pallikonda police station limits, was voluntarily handed over to the Pallikonda police station by the family on June 15, but till late in the night, there was no enquiry.
When he asked the Inspector who came to the station at 8 p.m. on June 17 whether he can take back Shameel, the Inspector said that he would leave Shameel after tracing the missing woman and handing her over to her family. But when he went to the station on June 18, Shameel was missing.
When Shameel’s uncle Khaleel went to the police station on June 19, the police official asked him to take back Shameel after giving in writing that he would be brought to the police station when the woman is traced or after seven days, whichever was earlier. But when Shameel was released, he could not even move his hands, said Mr. Ghouse.
Shameel was admitted to the Government Hospital, Ambur the same day. He was kept in the hospital till June 22 when he was shifted to the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital. After three days of treatment, he was shifted to the Government Hospital in Chennai where he died on Friday evening.
“My son-in-law went to the Pallikonda police station in good health,” said Mr. Ghouse, sobbing uncontrollably. “The suspension of the Inspector is not adequate to what he has done to Shameel. He has to be arrested,” he demanded.
When asked about the possibility of arresting the police inspector, T.K. Rajendran, ADGP (Law & Order) told The Hindu that any such action would depend on the report of the ongoing magisterial enquiry into the death. “Till date, the missing woman is yet to be traced. Enquiry into the woman missing case is also going on simultaneously,” Mr. Rajendran said.
