Contract labourer dies in custody; family stages protest

A 22-year-old contract labourer of Mettur thermal power plant died in police custody today after he was taken in for questioning over the death of a worker, triggering protests by his family who alleged he had been tortured to death.
Family members of Gokulakannan (22) staged a protest in front of a police station at Karumalaikoodal in the district demanding that a case of murder be registered against the Inspector and the policemen concerned.
They alleged his body bore several injuries and that he had been tortured to death.
The protest was lifted after senior police officials rushed to the spot and assured them that action would be taken against those responsible.