Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin has warned of stringent action against policemen for lock-up deaths, following the death of a 27 year old man in police custody in Sivaganga. Stalin who chaired a meeting with top bureaucrats and police officers on law and order situation in the state on Monday, said that police should treat people with dignity. “I have warned at the meeting that there will be strict action on those who fail in their duty in cases involving drugs, illicit liquor, women safety and lock-up deaths,” Stalin said on X.Stalin said that incidents of crime must be prevented irrespective of the perpetrators. “The Dravidian model govt will punish perpetrators of crime incidents irrespective of whether the person is a rowdy, a politician or a policeman,” he said.Meanwhile, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran posed a series of questions to the state govt on the custodial death.“If police harassment was not the reason for Ajith Kumar‘s death, then why should the six policemen be suspended? Even after admitting that it was a murder, why has a murder case not been registered against those responsible for Ajith Kumar’s death? Why were they not arrested,” Nainar asked in a social media post.He also questioned the police for not producing Ajith Kumar before a magistrate within 24 hours and why he was not taken to the hospital immediately after he fainted. “Is it true that the police handed over the body of Ajith Kumar to a private hospital in Madurai for autopsy as Tiruppuvanam and Manamadurai GHs refused to examine Ajith Kumar because he was brought four hours late and under suspicious circumstances,” Nainar asked.DMK govt came under criticism of its allies too. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai on X asked policemen to behave responsibly. Condemning the custodial death, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan said custodial deaths are recurring despite warnings. CPM state president P Shanmugam demanded the state govt to provide relief to Ajith’s family and to provide govt job for a person in Ajith’s family.Madurai: Five of the policemen suspended from Thiruppuvanam police station for the custodial death have been arrested on Monday night. They were booked for murder.A statement from the govt said that soon after the autopsy report of the custodial death victim Ajith Kumar was submitted to the govt, the action was taken without any delay.“The govt has acted in a transparent and unbiased manner. Compared to the past, custodial death in the last five years have been reduced. During such events, stern and immediate action has been taken,” said the statement. TNN
