Police sources say that during the chase, Vignesh threw a knife at them.
Chennai:
More than a week after a 25-year-old man died after he was allegedly beaten up at a police station in Chennai, an unverified CCTV video has emerged, leading to claims and counterclaims of alleged police harassment. NDTV cannot verify the authenticity of the tapes.
The 1.26-minute-long night video shows a man – whom police sources say is Vignesh – running down a narrow lane off the main road in Kelleys area of Chennai and falling as his two cops are following. The police later arrest the man and he is once beaten up with police batons.
As police personnel take him into custody, a cop is seen lifting something off the ground, which police sources claim, Vignesh had thrown a knife at him during the chase.
However, this claim of the police has been questioned by a human rights organisation, which is closely monitoring the matter.
“It is just one camera. There are at least 15 cameras, but the police have ensured that nothing works. The man was tortured for three hours from 11 pm onwards. However, the CB-CID said on April 21 But not a single summons was issued to him. Us. Why is the magistrate silent? The role of the judicial magistrate is sacrosanct in cases of suspicious deaths,” said Henri Tifangne, director of People’s Watch, a human rights organization that has worked on this case. Has picked up, told NDTV.
Police sources say that this is the video which he presented in the court.
Explaining the sequence of events, a member of the investigation team told NDTV, “This is where Vignesh tried to attack the police by throwing a knife. The footage shows a frame of Vignesh’s body motion- By-frame analysis would indicate, the man was using his hand to throw the knife without turning back and then he lost his balance and fell”.
Police say that Bhang (ganja) was found from Vignesh, who was traveling in an auto and he tried to attack the police with a knife and run away. Police officials say that then he was chased and arrested. The next morning Vignesh, who used to ride horses to the beach for Anand’s ride, reportedly suffered seizures and could not be saved despite medical aid, they said.
The suspicion of dishonesty in the family got stronger after the police allegedly donated Rs 1 lakh to him.
Two policemen – an SI and a constable – have been suspended.
The state government handed over the investigation to the CB-CID.
Chief Minister MK Stalin, who announced a relief of Rs 10 lakh to the family, has promised a fair probe into the matter.
Responding to the opposition and allies who raised the issue in the state assembly, he said, “Whether our party, DMK, is in power or not, the party is firm that there should be a thorough investigation into the custodial deaths and appropriate action should be taken. Responsible. Action should be taken against the people.”