New Delhi: The death of a father and son in police custody has sparked protests all over Tamil Nadu. The incident follows closely to the death of George Floyd an African American man in the United States who was killed by white policemen. According to media reports, both were brutally beaten and tortured and family members have alleged that it is the cause for their death.

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What happened in Tuticorin?

P Jayaraj and his son Fenix Emmanuel(Bennix) owned a mobile phone shop in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu. They were arrested by the police on June 19 for keeping their shop open beyond the permitted hours. According to a report by India Today, there was a 15-minute delay in shutting down the shop. The report also said that it was Jayaraj who was arrested first and later when his son went to the police station to enquire about him, he was arrested too. The duo was kept in the Sathankulam police station where they were brutally beaten and tortured. Some media reports have also said that they were subjected to sexual torture and there were injuries to their rectums.

They were later taken to the hospital in Kovilpatti where Jayaraj died on June 22  and Fenix on June 23.

The four police officers and two sub-inspectors involved in the incident have been suspended. The Madras High Court has also taken up suo motu petition on the case and had asked for a report from the police on Wednesday, June 24. In a hearing on Friday according to a report by the New Indian Express, the court said 'police brutality has become endemic' and also suggested psychological counselling for police personnel.



Political Row

According to a report by IANS the Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and his deputy O. Panneerselvam has said that justice will be done and has announced 25 lakh for the family of the victims. A report by PTI said that the AIADMK leaders took out a statement ‘The deaths of P Jayaraj and his son J Fennix was "very unfortunate, anguishing and the AIADMK would never allow such agonising incidents."

The opposition DMK has lashed out against the ruling party and the party President M.K. Stalin has questioned how the police got permission to carry out the attack.

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Protests in Tamil Nadu

Protests erupted in the state over the deaths of the father and son. On Wednesday, June 24, Tamil Nadu Traders Association ordered the closure of shops to protest against the killings. The incident also saw sparked outrage in social media comparing it to the brutal killing of George Floyd. The hashtag  #JusticeforJayarajAndFenix is now trending and many celebrities have raised their voice over the custodial killings. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has also condemned the incident and has said that 'It’s a tragedy when our protectors turn into oppressors.'