Kin hold stir after youth’s custodial death in Madurai

According to sources, the deceased victim, Manikandan (28), assaulted Ayyachamy (65) on Friday night near Arapalayam bus stand here and was then nabbed by the Karimedu police. Manikandan, who is reportedly a repeat offender charged in over 15crime cases, later died while in custody on Saturday morning.

Angered by Manikandan’s death, relatives of the victim thronged at Government Rajaji Hospital on Saturday and claimed that the police personnel should be held responsible for the youth’s death. The irate relatives then raising slogans against the police, said that they would not accept the body until stern action was taken against the officials.

However, Karimedu Inspector of Police S Jeyachandran when contacted, denied any harassment by the police during Manikandan’s inquiry. Manikandan was held since he spearheaded the attack on Ayyachamy, who is also an autorickshaw driver, and was brought to the police station around 9 pm on Friday, he said. Mentioning the attack as being gang-driven, the Inspector added that Manikandan-who’s a history-sheeter charged in about 16 cases, including attempt to murder-along with three others assaulted Ayyachamy, suspecting him of having informed the police about his whereabouts.

Moments after the assault, in which Ayyachamy suffered head injuries, the gang led by Manikandan tried to flee the spot after seeing a police patrol team. However, Manikandan’s accomplices managed to escape while the former was nabbed and interrogated in the Karimedu station, sources said.

Manikandan was well until 8 am on Saturday when he took a cup of tea, but he complained of nausea and sought help to take him to the hospital. His pulse later slowed down and was declared dead around 10.30 am, Jeyachandran said. Manikandan’s health became weak after he underwent a heart surgery earlier, the Inspector added.

The Karimedu police have filed a case under Section 176 of the CrPC.