Chennai: Shops were shut once again in Tamilnadu today, protesting the custodial deaths of dad-son duo, both traders, at Sathankulam in southern Thoothukudi district.
Shops were closed a couple of days ago too for the same reason. While that protest call was given by Tamilnadu Vanigar Sangankalin Peravai chief Vellaiyan, today’s strike call was from Tamilnadu Vanigar Sangankalin Peramaippu president Vikramaraja.
As the custodial deaths of the duo created an uproar and the Madras High Court taking suo motu cognisance of the incident, Tamilnadu Director General of Police (DGP) J K Tripathy had issued strict guidelines on dealing with those arrested with non-bailable and bailable offences.
In a circular issued to Commissioners and SPs, Tripathy taking a serious note of the death of a trader and his son allegedly due to police excesses, in fresh guidelines said those arrested under non-bailable offences should be taken to Detention-cum-Production Centre to be set up in all sub-divisions instead of the police station.
He said those arrested under non-bailable sections and are to beproduced in the court should be taken to the Centre and a policeteam should bring them to the Centre after conducting post-arrest medical examination along with screening for coronavirus.
Stating that documentation formalities would be done in the detentioncentre, he said since the High Court had directed the police to resort to electronic video linkage for producing the accused before the courteven for the first time after the arrest, senior police officers should make necessary arrangements and keep the Magistrates/Judges informed about the matter.
If the accused person is remanded to judicial custody by the court,he/she should be taken to the earmarked prison and it will be incumbent on the police department to condict Covid-19 test before taking them to the designated prison.
“If the person is found positive, the SI in-charge of the centre and all the police officials, physically involved in arresting the person, only would be quarantined, which will be minimum in number and once such quarantine takes place, the Commissioner/SP should post another Inspector in this Centre to be the in-charge of that Centre. Those arrested for bailable offences should be released immediately on bail,” Tripathy added.