The custodial deaths of P Jeyaraj and his son J Fenix in Sattankulam in Thoothukudi district allegedly due to police torture has been internationalised by an evangelist organisation putting a blot in India’s image globally.
Though the investigation into the deaths of the father-son duo was transferred by the Tamil Nadu Government to the CBI, India’s premier investigating agency and five cops including an inspector were arrested in connection with the case, which was initially probed by the Central Crime Branch of the State Police, an organisation by name Evangelical Fellowship of India has termed the whole incident as a communally sponsored murders.
In a report titled “Hate and Targeted Violence Against Christians in India”, the EFI has alleged that the custodial deaths were perpetrated by policemen backing RSS elements in a rival community.
This has shocked the entire police community in Tamil Nadu, known for their commitment to secularism and brotherhood.
“The anti-Christian violence in Tamil Nadu which reported a horrendous custodial torture and murder of two Christians of the Nadar community by policemen backing RSS elements in a rival community, is traced to caste supremacist attitudes in villages and their linkages with political elements. In most of the districts of the State the police are recruited from the dominant castes, which are inimical to the Christian community and its pastors, a large number of whom are from marginalised castes and economically poor and less affluent sections of society,” charged the executive summary.
The report alleges that Jeyaraaj and Fenix were “beaten, brutally tortured, sodomised with rods”. It also charges that Magistrate P Saravanan supported the Police which continued to torture till the two collapsed. A veteran police officer said this was an attempt to tarnish the image of Tamil Nadu Police.
“We all know that the murders of Jeyaraaj and Fenix were dastard acts. Even before the Madras High Court gave its verdict in the suo motu petition, Tamil Nadu government transferred the case to the CBI and five cops have been suspended and arrested. The report being circulated by EFI is unfortunate and it is with ulterior motives,” said the officer who also felt that the Government of Tamil Nadu should initiate legal action against such canards.