Police strip, beat up CPI (M) district secretary

The Left party office-bearer admitted to Sivaganga hospital

SIVAGANGA

In an alleged police excess, Thirupuvanam police allegedly stripped and beaten up M. Kandasamy, district secretary of the CPI (M) after he objected to eviction of vegetable vendors from the weekly shandy in the town panchayat and argued with the police on Tuesday evening.

Mr. Kandasamy (44) and his wife were returning here after visiting his mother in his native place Villiarendal when they stopped at the shandy for buying vegetables. As they were buying vegetables, a police team, led by Thirumurugan, Sub-Inspector of Police attached to Thirupuvanam police station, evicted the vendors, mostly women, after throwing the vegetables on the road.

When Mr. Kandasamy questioned the police, a wordy duel broke out between them, after which Mr. Thirumurugan allegedly slapped Mr. Kandasamy and took him to the police station. Mr. Kandasamy, presently undergoing treatment at Sivaganga Government Medical College Hospital, told

The Hindu that the SI stripped him at the police station. Constables Muthupandi, Sankar, Nanthakumar and Raja, held him after twisting his hands backward and the SI beat him with a lathi, he said.

At one stage, the SI picked up his (Mr. Kandasamy’s) footwear and beat him on his face with it, he alleged. He suffered severe contusions all over his back, he said.

The police said Mr. Thirumurugan had joined the service only about six months ago after training. The police claimed that he slapped Mr. Kandasamy after the latter held his shirt following the wordy duel.

The police, however, admitted that there was excess on the part of the SI after taking the Left party leader to the police station.

Condemning the police action, CPI (M) volunteers gathered in front of the police station and demanded action against the erring policemen.

Soon after the incident was brought to his notice, Superintendent of Police T. Jayachandran directed Manamadurai DSP Sankar to enquire into the incident and submit a report. Meanwhile, the SP transferred the SI to the armed reserve police.