A section of residents of the Schedule Caste community from Oomachikulam alleged on Monday that they were exploited by the police under the guise of interrogation the whole of last week. They petitioned Collector T. G. Vinay here, seeking return of money and jewellery that were allegedly given to the police in order to be released post interrogation.
The residents, who arrived at the Collectorate, alleged that the interrogation by the police began when some miscreants stole about four iron rods used in the construction of the elevated highway at Oomachikulam.
V. Arumugam, who works as a loadman, said that he was beaten up by the Oomachikulam police and was asked to give ₹1.25 lakh in order to be released.
“I was minding my own business when police came knocking on my door and asked me to come to the station. I still have blood clots on my thighs and legs as the police beat me with lathis. I have not done anything wrong. I do not understand why I was treated this way,” he said.
His sister M. Kanthamma said that the family had gone through severe mental stress because it had had to arrange ₹1. 25 lakh ensure that her brother was released. “We have all given up our property and pawned our jewellery to ensure his release,” she said.
C. Marimuthu, a representative of Tamil Puligal, said that the public had been cheated and tortured under the guise of interrogation. “Arumugam’s family is just one story. There are 34 others. The district administration must intervene at the earliest,” he said.
Madurai Superintendent of Police N. Manivannan termed the claims as false. “However, I have appointed an Additional Superintendent of Police to look into the matter,” he said.
