Father-son duo custodial deaths : DMK threatens to move court for CBI probe

In a series of tweets, DMK President M K Stalin sought to know on what basis Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that Benicks died of
breathing problems and Jayaraj due to ill-health, when their post mortem report was yet to come.

Demanding  justice for the duo, he said since the fault lies with the government, the ruling AIADMK announced a solatium of Rs 25 lakh to their families. ''If it were a natural death, would you give the assistance?" he sought to know and demanded the arrest of those involved in thedeaths of the duo.

Stating that the duo was killed, Mr Stalin said if the government did not ensure a fair probe and take action against the killers, the DMK would move
the court seeking a CBI probe into it.

Jayaraj and his son Bennix, who were the small time traders in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district, were pulled up, arrested and allegedly assaulted by the Sathankulam Police officials for keeping their mobile shop open beyond the permitted time during the lockdown.

Following the assault, which reminded the killing of black man George Floyd by a police officer in the United States, the father-son duo had succumbed to their injuries in Kovilpatti General Hospital.

Protesting against the incident, radio jockey Suchitra took to Twitter to narrate how Jayaraj and Bennix were stripped of clothes including "underwear" and attacked on their genitals.