(Image source from: indiatimes.in)

Tamil Nadu government has taken a decision on Sunday to hand over the case of the custodial deaths of Jayaraj and Bennicks to CBI for further investigation.

The two men Jayaraj, aged 56 and Bennicks (also mistakenly being pronounced as Fenix) aged 31, succumbed their lives to police torture on June 22 and June 23.

Since then, there has a furor all over the internet and also in the state. Many celebrities and politicians condemned the brutal act by Police.

However, police have registered the cause of death to be heart failure for the father Jayaraj and fever for the son, Bennicks.

The only eye witness of the brutality was Bennicks’ friend who was also present at the Sathankulam police station who says they were brutally tortured by the Police men which led them to lose their lives.

Many videos have been circulating all over the social media describing the way Sathankulam Police have tortured the father and son duo. There were multiple protests and outrages demanding justice to Jayaraj and Bennicks since June 23.

Considering the intensity of the situation, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami has decided to transfer the case to CBI.

He said the custodial deaths case in Tuticorin can only be transferred to CBI after approval from Madras High Court.

However, following the furor by the locals, four policemen have been suspended and several have been transferred to other branches.

Tamil Nadu’s superstar Rajinikanth spoke to Jayaraj’s wife over a phone call and conveyed his condolences to her.

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi too condemned the incident and urged people to raise their voices against brutality of Police. She asked people to stand up for the family and put an end to heinous crimes done by Police under the face of law.

P Jayaraj and Bennicks were arrested on June 20 for violating the lockdown rules and keeping their mobile store open after the curfew was imposed across the state.

According to the allegations, the father and son duo have been severely beaten and sexually assaulted which led to heavy blood-shed ultimately leading to death.

Police crimes are being heard from all over the world since early 2020 and people are demanding justice for every victim of the heinous crimes since then.

On the early hours of Monday, actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam President Kamal Hassan tweeted saying the government must not give up its responsibility by giving the case to CBI. He urged the government to first register a case under IPC section 302 and then hand over the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Tamil Nadu government has re-imposed lockdown on June 19 following an upsurge in the number of COVID-19 cases. The state has the highest number of cases in the country after Maharastra. The lockdown is scheduled to end on June 30.

By Gayatri Yellayi