Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami, condoled the deaths, and announced a total of Rs. 20 lakh as exgratia and a job for the family. The case has been taken by the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court. Four policemen, including two sub-inspectors have been suspended and an inspector has been benched by the state government, Chief Minister EK Palaniswami, who controls the police department.

A Mobile shop owner and his son’s death in the police custody in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu, five days ago. The political party in the state following allegations of torture is snowballing into a major political row and has demanding calls for law enforcement reform. DMK Chief M K Stalin in a statement said that “the alleged brutal assault on the two men days ago by police was a result of the AIADMK government allowing them to take law into their own hands at a time when they have to ensure the safety of the public during the lockdown.” Shops were closed in the district and other parts of the state in protest on Friday.

P Jayaraj and his son Pennis were arrested for keeping their mobile phone shop in Tuticorin open beyond permitted hours last Friday and died at a hospital four days later. The relatives alleged that they were severely thrashed at the Sathankulam police station by police personnel. They allege that there were injuries to the rectum and other tell-tale signs of torture on the two bodies like tufts of hair pulled from the chest, and demanded murder charges against the policemen involved. The two men had been charged with criminal intimidation and verbally abusing the cops.

MK Stalin, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly, said all those responsible for the “barbarity” should get tough punishment and his party would support all legal action for it. DMK MP Kanimozhi has also written to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) over the incident. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also spoke out about the incident on Friday, condoling the deaths and said it was a tragedy when protectors “turn into oppressors”. Relatives of two traders had finally accepted the bodies on Thursday, expressing hope they would get justice and following assurances given by the officials.