Woman on bail, alleges torture by Tiruchy prison staff

Valarmathi, speaking to reporters after coming out of the prison, alleged that the authorities stripped them and physically tortured them. She demanded a judicial inquiry and action against the prison officers.

“Soon after we were held at Kulithalai on April 15 at 8.30 pm on our way to participate in the Neduvasal protest for inquiry, we were asked to wait for a long time. Around 1 am police informed us that we have links with banned Maoists and took us to the special prison for women in Tiruchy,” Valarmathi said. She added, “There in the prison we were stripped despite our repeated protests.” The student further said, “Though we cried that it was against the law, five prison staff forcibly removed our dress in the name of inspection. They even threatened us. They did so twice on the pretext of searching us.”

Valarmathi alleged that they were put up in separate cells, when they went on a hunger strike against the alleged assaults and added that the prison staff used to lathi charge them whenever they protested. “Other women inmates came to our rescue, they too were severely attacked by the staff,” Valarmathi claimed. “I could not meet my friend Swathi, who was arrested along with me,” she added. 

After coming out on bail, Valarmathi has decided to approach the Human Rights Commission. “There should be a single judge inquiry on the issue and action should be initiated against prison staff,” she noted. 

Meanwhile, attempts to contact the DIG (Prisons) and the Superintendent went futile. 

It may be noted that on April 15, two girls along with five other men – belonging to Students Uprising Movement for Social Awareness (SUMS) from Coimbatore, who have been campaigning against the Neduvasal hydrocarbon project, were arrested at Kulithalai railway station. The group was also campaigning on the train, playing the parai (a drum) and distributing pamphlets. Later, they were charged with alleged links with Maoists and for instigating violence among the public.