Tamil Nadu custodial deaths: NHRC issues notices to state DGP, Thoothukudi SP, seeks report within six weeks

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday said it has issued notices to the DGP of Tamil Nadu and SP of Thoothukudi district in the southern state over the deaths of a father-son duo allegedly due to torture by police.

The NHRC, in a tweet, also said it has sought a report from the police officers, which has to “include inquest report, post-mortem examination report, medical treatment record, magisterial enquiry report and health screening report of both victims, within 6 weeks”.

The report has to include inquest report, postmortem examination report, medical treatment record, magisterial enquiry report and health screening report of both victims, within 6 weeks.

— NHRC India (@India_NHRC) July 1, 2020

P Jayaraj and his son Fenix, who were arrested for “violating” lockdown norms over the business hours of their cell phone shop, died at a hospital in Thoothukudi’s Kovilpatti on 23 June, with the relatives alleging that they were severely thrashed at the Sathankulam police station by the personnel earlier.

The incident has triggered a nationwide furore.

“NHRC notice to DGP, Tamil Nadu and SP, Thoothukudi on allegations of the deaths of father-son due to police torture,” the rights panel said in a tweet.