In a significant ruling, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) has formally recommended that the Tamil Nadu government provide a compensation of ₹4 lakh to a father in Tenkasi district. This recommendation follows the tragic death of his son in 2020, attributed to injuries inflicted by police personnel. Furthermore, SHRC member V. Kannadasan has called for disciplinary action against the two police officers involved, suggesting that ₹2 lakh be recovered from each of them to contribute to the compensation.
After meticulously reviewing all oral testimonies, documentary evidence, and presented arguments, the Commission firmly concluded that the late Kumaresan was subjected to assault and torture. This misconduct was carried out by then Sub Inspector Chandrasekar and police constable Kumar, both of whom were serving at the Veerakeralampudur Police Station in Tenkasi district at the time.
The SHRC explicitly stated that the implicated policemen bore full responsibility for the fatal injuries sustained by Kumaresan. The Commission further highlighted that the officers failed to substantiate their defense, which claimed the deceased was an alcoholic whose death resulted from related health complications. Instead, the SHRC affirmed that the officers’ actions directly led to Kumaresan’s death, constituting a severe violation of the complainant’s human rights.
The complaint filed by A. Navaneethakrishnan detailed how his son, Kumaresan, an auto-driver, was brutally assaulted by the accused policemen during an inquiry into a property dispute in May 2020. Navaneethakrishnan alleged that the Sub-Inspector stood on one of Kumaresan’s thighs while the constable stood on the other. Tragically, Kumaresan was subsequently admitted to the ICU and passed away on June 27, 2020, despite receiving hospital treatment.
During the proceedings, both officers vehemently denied the accusations. However, after carefully considering all arguments and evidence presented by both parties, the Commission reiterated its conclusion: the respondent officers were unequivocally responsible for the injuries that led to Kumaresan’s death.