Madurai police commissioner charged for rights violation

Madurai, Jul 1: Madurai city police commissioner P Kannappan and five other policemen would face legal action shortly on the charges of malicious prosecution and human rights violation during their tenure in Ramanathapuram district in 1997, as ordered by the Madras High Court.

S Krishnamurthy has filed a petition in the court seeking action against police officials for allegedly torturing the petitioner and his friend Palani to confess that they had murdered a girl, who was found alive in 2002, five years after the case was registered against them.

The court slammed as "condemnable" the action of the CBI, which had recommended only departmental action despite holding the officials concerned guilty of human rights violations.

The CBI would take up departmental action against Kannappan, who served as SP of Ramanathapuram district, Inspector Madhavan, Inspector Baskaran, Sub-inspector Dasaratharajan, and Head Constables Rajamani and Samidurai.

The court also condemned the home secretary for following the recommendation of the CBI report and taking only departmental action against the police officials, instead of taking action for violating human rights.

In the departmental enquiry that ensued, the charges against certain officials were dropped while others were issued 'charge memo'. The petitioner was not happy with the government action, and had filed a fresh petition.

OneIndia News