Judge begins probe into murder in Tirunelveli prison

TIRUNELVELI: The second judicial magistrate of Tirunelveli court on Sunday began judicial inquest on the custodial murder of P Muthu Mano, 27, a historysheeter from Vagaikulam, at the Palayamkottai central prison on April 22. Police said the magistrate began his probe with the relatives of Mano. He will also inquire with prison staff and inmates before submitting the report to the investigation officer.
Meanwhile, Evidence, an NGO working against caste killings and atrocities on dalits, has urged the government to ensure that the relatives of Mano get justice and that such incidents don’t recur.“The case was registered on a complaint lodged by a prison official. This cannot be accepted and a fresh one should be registered based on a complaint from his parents,” A Kathir, its executive director, said.
He also sought criminal charges against the prison officers and staff responsible for the murder along with the inmates who have been booked. Suspension of the six prison staff and officers is only department action. Kathir demanded that the trial should be conducted under the supervision of Madras high court and NHRC should take suo motu cognizance of the murder.
PMK founder S Ramadoss has sought a probe by a retired high court judge into the events leading to Mano’s murder and wanted measures to be recommended to the state government to put an end to such incidents. Ramadoss also wanted the government to clarify the circumstances under which Mano was transferred from Srivaikuntam sub jail to the Palayamkottai prison on the day he was murdered.
A senior police officer told TOI that the FIR was registered based on the complaint registered by the prison officer like any other crime inside a prison. “Based on the judicial inquest report to be submitted to the investigation officer – Palayamkottai assistant commissioner in this case – the prison staff found guilty would be added in the charge sheet,” he added. As Muthu Mano’s relatives await directions from the Madras high court on Monday to conduct autopsy on his body, police are confident that the kin would receive his body.