Social activist Piyush Manush on Thursday lodged a complaint with the Judicial Magistrate No. III A. Shanmuga Priya over the alleged torture meted out to him when he was under judicial custody at Salem Central Prison. The complaint detailed the happenings that led to his arrest along with two of his associates on July 8 and the incidents that took place thereafter until his release. He alleged that he was assaulted, tortured, and kept in solitary confinement in a room for five days by Superintendent of Prison M. Senthil Kumar, chief warden Thirunavukarasu, and at least 20 to 25 prison officials.
He said a malicious rumour had been spread in the prison that he had set the national flag on fire, and this had turned all the prisoners against him. The misconception was cleared only after they came to know through newspapers that he was arrested for protesting against the construction of a flyover, he added. The activist said that the assault was stopped only after he informed his wife on July 14 about it. He said that the footage in the surveillance cameras in the prison would support his charge. He wanted the Superintendent of Prisons to reveal at whose behest he had assaulted him. The magistrate, after hearing the activist, said that the complaint would be taken up for hearing on August 2.
