Custodial death case altered to murder and SC/ST Act: State to HC

Madurai: The state govt on Thursday informed Madras high court that the case pertaining to the death of R Akash, in police custody in Manamadurai in Sivaganga district, has been altered to Section 103 (murder) of BNS and Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.The state submitted that the demand of the protesters was taken into consideration, the case altered, and the alteration report was filed by the CB-CID before the Madurai judicial magistrate IV court. The state submitted that, though the case was altered pursuant to the directions of the court, the protesters still continued their protest on the Manamadurai national highway, causing inconvenience to the free flow of traffic.On Wednesday, the court constituted a peace committee consisting of three advocates, K Samidurai, C Mayil Vahana Rahendran and K C Ramalingam, to persuade the protesters to continue their demonstration in a peaceful manner by shifting the protest venue from the Manamadurai–Rameswaram national highway to the Manamadurai old bus stand. The committee, which organised talks with the protesters, submitted a report before the court on Thursday. In the report, protesters as well as the leaders spearheading the protests expressed their willingness to cooperate with the directions of the court and carry on their protests peacefully at the Manamadurai old bus stand, provided the case was altered to one under Section 103 of BNS.Justice L Victoria Gowri observed that the court, in deference to the grievance projected by the protesters and bearing in mind the sensitivity of the issue involved, passed an elaborate order on Wednesday issuing certain directions to the state authorities. Though the state complied with the directions, the protesters continued their agitation.The judge directed the protesters to vacate the Manamadurai–Rameswaram national highway by 4.30pm and to continue their protest, if they so desire, only at the Manamadurai old bus stand from 4.30pm onwards in a peaceful and orderly manner. The judge directed the Sivaganga district superintendent of police to take appropriate steps in the event of non-compliance and to ensure restoration of normal traffic movement and public order. The judge also appreciated the members of the peace committee and posted the matter on Friday.The court was hearing the petition filed by the deceased youth Akash's father, A Rajeshkannan.