Man assaulted by cops moves HC seeking criminal action

A man, who along with his wife and son, was brutally thrashed by three policemen in full public view in Tiruvannamalai district two days ago, today moved the Madras High Court seeking registration of a criminal case against them and their suspension.
Justice P N Prakash, before whom the petition which also sought protection to the family came up, said he would hear it tomorrow.
Petitioner A. Raja of Thokkavadi village submitted that he and his son had gone to the local market on July 11. As his wife too came there on her own, he had scolded her.
Chengam Sub-Inspector Murugan and two constables Nammalvar and Vijayakumar, who were present there, immediately intervened and even without hearing their explanation that it was a family dispute attacked them with lathis, the petitioner claimed.

The barbaric attack continued even after his wife fell at the feet of the policemen and begged them not to beat them. In the impact, a portion of her blouse was torn and some local people offered her a piece of cloth to cover herself, he said.
They suffered bleeding injuries, the petitioner submitted adding they were later taken to the police station. Instead of of giving treatment, they were beaten up there too.

At night, the SI gave him Rs.1,000 with an advice to go only to a private hospital for treatment but the petitioner said he turned it down.

He further said local DSP Shaji pacified an agitated crowd which gheraoed the police station protesting the assault and requested him not to precipitate the issue.
The family was taken to a private nursing home at around 2 AM but asked to approach government hospital as their injuries were severe. A formal complaint about the incident was lodged yesterday, he said.
Raising doubts about an unbiased probe, the petitioner moved the court for criminal action against the three police personnel and their supension. He also sought an interim direction to provide treatment to his family members and protection.
As the video of the attack on the couple and their son on a busy road went viral, DMK and others condemned it. The three police personnel had since been transferred out of Chengam where the incident had occurred.