Parties take out protest rally seeking ASP’s arrest

Madurai: Political parties staged a demonstration at Tirunelveli junction on Sunday demanding the arrest of ASP Balveer Singh who has been accused of torturing people at the police stations of Ambasamudram division that was under his control before he was suspended. CPM, CPI, VCK and other outfits raised slogans against Singh demanding that the government file an FIR against him and arrest him for custodial torture.The parties demanded an inquiry commission headed by a sitting judge on the custodial torture by the ASP, and also urged the government to compensate the victims.Meanwhile, two constables from special branch, Bogan from Vickrasingapuram station and Rajkumar from Kallidaikurichi station, were transferred to Armed Reserve by Tirunelveli SP P Saravanan. Ambasamudram, Vickramasingpuram and Kallidaikurichi are the police stations where the ASP allegedly tortured the victims.After the incident came to light on social media, Tirunelveli collector K P Karthikeyan ordered an inquiry by Cheranmahadevi sub-collector Mohammed Shabir Alam. The latter has asked victims and others to give statements on the custodial torture before April 10. State Human Rights Commission had also summoned ASP Balveer Singh to appear before it for an inquiry.