Two petrol bombs were hurled at the Kannagi Nagar police station in Chennai early on Sunday morning, as public anger over a suspicious custodial death increases.
Twelve motorcycles were destroyed in the blaze, and several jeeps were partially damaged before the fire was put out.
Meenkulambu Karthi, a 22-year-old who was arrested for allegedly stealing a chain, was found dead in his cell on Wednesday under suspicious circumstances. It is the second such incident of custodial death in as many weeks, following the alleged suicide of the lone suspect in the Swathi murder case, Ramkumar.
More than 600 protesters gathered outside of the Kannagi Nagar station on Thursday after Karthi’s mother, S Ganga, claimed that her son was beaten to death while in custody. The crowd dispersed after high ranking police officials promised an inquiry would be held in the matter.
Ganga also claims she was offered a bribe of Rs 4 lakhs while at the station in order to remain silent, an allegation the police have denied.
On Saturday, Ganga formally asked the police commissioner to register a case of murder against the personnel involved. Though police have stated that Karthi died after sustaining several head injuries, Ganga said she saw many bruises on his body, indicating that he had been beaten to death while in custody.
{{/usCountry}}On Saturday, Ganga formally asked the police commissioner to register a case of murder against the personnel involved. Though police have stated that Karthi died after sustaining several head injuries, Ganga said she saw many bruises on his body, indicating that he had been beaten to death while in custody.
{{/usCountry}}Police officers declined to comment on the allegations of torture and bribery.
A number of personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any further attacks on the station.