Five Tamil Nadu cops arrested in custodial death case

Eight policemen have been suspended. Representational pic

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday placed the district police chief of Sivaganga under "compulsory wait" over a custodial death, while five policemen were arrested in connection with the incident that has caused a furore.

Ashish Rawat, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Sivaganga, has been "placed on Compulsory Wait at the O/o the Director General of Police/HoPF, Tamil Nadu, Chennai," a Home Department note said. G Chandeesh, IPS, SP, Ramanathapuram, will hold the additional charge of Sivaganga. Moreover, six police personnel had been placed under suspension on June 28.

A judicial enquiry has also been ordered into the matter. The victim, security guard Ajithkumar of Tiruppuvanam in Sivaganga, was picked up by the local police, reportedly in connection with a theft case earlier and allegedly died in police custody. His death sparked an outrage, with political parties slamming the government over the issue.

CBI to probe

Chief Minister M K Stalin ordered transferring of the case to the CBI. The CM said he was anguished to know that Ajithkumar, picked up for enquiry died under mysterious circumstances in Tiruppuvanam "only because of the assault by the police during interrogation." "This is unjustifiable and cannot be excused."

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