Union minister demands probe by HC judge into Perumal death

Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan today demanded a probe headed by a High Court Judge into the circumstances that led to the death of 59-year-old Gandhian Sasi Perumal, who died of suspected heart failure while holding a demonstration at Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
Raising doubts surrounding the death of the anti-liquor crusader, the Minister of State for Shipping criticised the police action in the issue, saying the incident could have been averted if the police had taken "appropriate action."
"He (Perumal) being brought down from the mobile tower. Whether he died when he was on the top? Excessive bleeding was found on his body? Had he breathed his last while being brought down? These things are creating lot of doubts.... A probe must be conducted by a committee headed by a Judge of the High Court," Radhakrishnan told reporters here.

Taking exceptions to police action, he alleged that the District Superintendent of Police did not visit the spot.
"Thereafter, he (Sasi Perumal) is being rushed to the hospital. But, the district Superintendent of Police did not visit the spot, which is very unfortunate. The Superintendent of Police should have shown more attention over the issue... Had the police taken necessary action, such an incident would have prevented," the Union Minister, who represents the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha constituency said.
Perumal, who had been campaigning for total prohibition in Tamil Nadu, died today of suspected heart failure while holding a demonstration atop of a mobile phone tower demanding closure of a liquor shop near an educational institution, police said.

Perumal, who had held various forms of peaceful agitations in support of his demand for prohibition, suddenly collapsed during his more than five-hour long demonstration on top of the 200-feet tower in Unnamalai in the district.