Tuticorin custodial deaths: Rajinikanth says those involved in 'brutal killing' of father-son duo should be aptly punished

Rajinikanth on Wednesday described the custodial deaths of a Tutcorin father- son duo as  a “brutal killing”. He expressed shock over the ‘‘inappropriate behaviour’’ of some policemen with a Judicial Magistrate (JM) probing the matter. “#sathyama vidave koodathu (this should not be spared at any cost),” the actor said in a tweet. The hashtag in Tamil trended on Twitter minutes after he put up the post with an image of him, striking a visibly angry pose. “While the entire humanity has opposed the brutal killing of the father and son by torture, I was shocked at the way some policemen behaved and spoke in front of the (judicial) magistrate. All those involved should get appropriate punishment. This should not be spared,” he said, according to Press Trust of India. Here is his tweet

#சத்தியமா_விடவே_கூடாது pic.twitter.com/MLwTKg1x4a

— Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) July 1, 2020

P Jayaraj and his son Bennicks, arrested for ‘‘violating’’ lockdown norms over business hours of their cellphone shop, died at a hospital in Kovilpatti on 23 June, with their relatives alleging that they were severely thrashed at the Sathankulam police station by the personnel earlier. The incident has triggered a nation-wide furore, leading to the suspension of five policemen, including an inspector and two Sub-Inspectors. The former SP is on compulsory wait. Earlier, the Judicial Magistrate probing the deaths had informed the Madras High Court (Madurai Bench) that police personnel at the Sathankulam station did not cooperate with him, even as one of the constables made disparaging remarks against him. Another policeman had displayed “intimidating, macho body language.” Subsequently, the court had summoned three policemen, including an Additional SP, on Tuesday where the constable who allegedly made the remarks against the JM had submitted he spoke so by mistake since he was “overstressed.” The court, which has taken up the case, had transferred the investigation to CB-CID till the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) takes over the probe. The Tamil Nadu government had on Monday transferred the probe to CBI. (With inputs from Press Trust of India)