Police accused of holding Kuravar minors, torturing parent in custody

THE Perambalur district police have been accused of illegally detaining two minor children, belonging to Kuravar community, and subjecting their parents to custodial torture for more than 48 hours in a suspected theft case involving the male members of the family.

- PEARSON LENEKAR SR @ Perambalur

The relatives of the family claimed that an eight-year-old boy, eight-month-old baby, their mother V Chellammal (25), father P Vijayakanth (33), and his brother Dhanush (20) were picked up near Keelavasal in Thanjavur on Monday evening by the Padalur police of Perambalur district "without any warrant or intimation." Rejecting the complaint of illegal detention, the Perambalur police, however, said that Vijayakanth, Dhanush, and another person identified as V Suresh (33) were arrested by them on Wednesday in connection with five burglary cases in and around Perambalur.

Speaking to TNIE, Perambalur SP Adarsh Pachera said, "They are habitual offenders. Whenever they are arrested, they make such allegations. The children were not held in custody. The existing case records support police's action." The three accused are now lodged in Perambalur sub-jail, sources said.