Martin Premraj, Inspector of Police, Pallikonda Police Station who was suspended from service for alleged custodial torture leading to the death of Shameel Ahmed of Ambur has been granted Crime Branch CID custody by the Judicial Magistrate-3 (in charge), Vellore on Wednesday.
The Inspector, who failed to heed the summons issued by the CB CID in the case under section 176 (inquiry by a magistrate into the cause of death) was arrested by the forest department personnel of Kanyakumari district for deer hunting in Azhagiya Pandiapuram near Nagercoil a few days ago, and subsequently lodged in the Central Prison, Palayamkottai.
It may be recalled that Shameel Ahmed, who was employed in a shoe factory in Pallikonda died at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Chennai on June 26.
He had sustained injuries allegedly due to custodial torture during enquiry by Martin Premraj and other police personnel in the Pallikonda Police Station in a girl missing case.
His death sparked violence in Ambur on June 27 when agitators demanding the arrest of the Inspector blocked the Chennai-Bangalore National Highway.
they had pelted stones at policemen and torched police vehicles, leading to injuries to 30 police personnel including women.
The agitators were later lathi-charged. Later, on the instructions of the Director General of Police, Martin Premraj was suspended from service, and the case against him was entrusted to the CB CID.
On production of a PT (prisoner’s transit) warrant at the Central Prison, Palayamkottai by the CB CID police personnel on Tuesday, Martin Premraj was brought to the Central Prison here early on Wednesday morning.Produced in court
The CB CID team led by Nagajothi, Superintendent of Police investigating into the case produced him in the JM-3 Court on Wednesday morning and sought custody of the accused to facilitate investigation into the case. Revathy, JM-3 (in charge) granted CB CID custody for three days till August 7.
