The Madras High Court Bench here on Friday directed Tiruchuli police in Virudhunagar district to register a First Information Report (FIR) against a Sub-Inspector of Police for having allegedly assaulted a 71-year-old Dalit who had to be hospitalised for seven days.
Refusing to accept the submission of a government counsel that the police had closed the complaint lodged with respect to the alleged assault, Justice R. Mala ordered that the FIR must be produced before the court on October 16 since the allegations against the police officer were serious.
Earlier, the petitioner N. Paulraj’s counsel R. Karunanidhi pointed out that his client was eking out a living by selling snacks at a State-run liquor shop. He was standing near a tea shop on Tiruchuli Main Road on September 2 when the Sub-Inspector in civilian clothes wanted to enquire him.
The police officer accused the petitioner of having stolen a few liquor bottles. But when he denied it, the officer allegedly abused him in public, slapped him twice and took him forcibly on his two-wheeler to Tiruchuli police station where the aged man was beaten black and blue.
Injuries sustained by the petitioner were so serious that he had to undergo treatment as an inpatient at Aruppukottai Government Hospital between September 2 and 9. Yet, the police officials, including the Superintendent of Police, did not heed to his request to register FIR against the SI, he claimed.
The officer allegedly abused him in public, slapped him twice and took him forcibly to police station
