The office of State Human Rights Commission in Chennai. File
| Photo Credit: M. Karunakaran
The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has recommended that the Tamil Nadu government pay a compensation of ₹3 lakh to the mother of a man who jumped into the Adyar river in August 2018, after a sub-inspector (SI) of police refused to return the key to his two-wheeler during a vehicle check.
SHRC member V. Kannadasan, in a detailed order, also recommended that disciplinary action be initiated against the respondent P. Vijayarangan, who was then serving as an SI attached to J2 Adyar Traffic Police Station, Chennai. The commission observed that the policeman “instigated” the man’s death.
The deceased person’s mother and complainant in the case, L. Revathi, alleged that the police tried to snatch the two-wheeler’s key from her son Radhakrishnan during a vehicle check in August 2018, but her son was reluctant to give it.
She further said to save himself from police beating, her son told the personnel he would jump into the river if they manhandled him. The police sarcastically asked him to jump into the river and he immediately did so, she alleged.
During the hearing, the respondents denied all charges levelled against them. According to a report by the Investigation Wing of the commission, respondent Vijayarangan took the key to the bike, and when Radhakrishnan threatened to jump into the river, the respondent said he could do so.
The report further said that Vijayarangan was the reason why Radhakrishnan died, and after he snatched the key from him, he “instigated” the latter’s death. The respondent also did not immediately take steps to save him, the report added.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416. and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)
Published – January 30, 2025 05:13 pm IST