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Sub-inspector gets life term for shooting dead detainee in station

Madurai: A sub-inspector of police, who shot dead a person with his service revolver after wrongfully confining him at the station, has been convicted and handed out life sentence besides being asked to pay Rs 2 lakh compensation to the victim’s family.

Syed Mohammed, 28, from SP Pattinam in Ramanathapuram created a ruckus at a two-wheeler workshop in 2014 demanding that its owner Aruldoss give him the two-wheeler belonging to his friend.

Aruldoss told him that he would hand it over only to its owner who left it there for repair. As a quarrel erupted, Aruldoss alerted the local police. Syed Mohammed was taken to SP Pattinam police station for an inquiry

A Kalidoss, 33, the then sub-inspector of police at SP Pattinam station, conducted inquiries with Syed Mohammed. During the interrogation, the SI, a native of Mela Anupanadi in Madurai city, fired three bullets at the detainee, including one on his chest killing him on the spot. The SI claimed that he had opened fire as Syed Mohammed attacked him with a knife. He also got himself admitted to government Rajaji hospital in Madurai, claiming that he suffered injuries in the attack.

The case was initially registered under CrPC section 176 (1) for custodial death and a magistrate inquiry was conducted. However, it was later transferred to CB-CID with deputy superintendent of police M R Manmadhapandian as investigation officer. A case was registered against Kalidoss under IPC sections 323 – punishment for voluntarily causing hurt, 342- punishment for wrongful confinement, and 302- punishment for murder, based on a complaint from head constable P Ayappan from the same police station.

While convicting the sub-inspector under sections 302 and awarding life sentence, principal district judge R Shanmuga Sundaram said the fine amount of Rs 2 lakh has to be given to the victim’s mother Syed Ali Fatima. While he was acquitted from charges under section 323, the judge convicted him under 342 and awarded six months simple imprisonment in concurrence.

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