Tamil Nadu: Probe ordered into assault claims by 17 recaptured inmates
The Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority has ordered an investigation into allegations of torture and ill-treatment involving 17 undertrial prisoners.
The Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority (TNSLSA) on Monday ordered an investigation into allegations of assault, torture and intimidation involving 17 undertrial prisoners. The inmates had escaped from a sub jail in Theni district a week ago and were later recaptured by the police.
According to a report by Hindustan Times, Justice SM Subramaniam, the executive chairman of TNSLSA and a sitting judge of the Madras High Court, directed District Legal Services Authorities (DLSA) in five districts to look into the matter. The probe will determine if prison officials prevented the inmates from raising complaints to jail authorities.
Justice Subramaniam instructed the DLSA chairperson in Theni to visit the district jail to enquire if the prisoners were denied proper food and drinking water or subjected to ill-treatment before their escape. DLSA chairpersons in Cuddalore, Madurai, Salem and Tirunelveli have been directed to visit the central prison where the 17 prisoners are currently lodged.
The TNSLSA stated that officials must interact with the prisoners individually without any prison officials present. If the prisoners report being assaulted, officials must record the names of the alleged perpetrators, the dates, places, nature of the assault and names of witnesses.
The 17 prisoners, most aged between 20 and 25, escaped from the Thekkampatti sub-jail near Andipatti on October 26. They were arrested by police teams, including the Special Task Force (STF), between October 27 and the following day.
The five DLSA chairpersons have been asked to submit their respective reports to the TNSLSA by November 16.