History-sheeter dies in road accident; kin allege custodial torture

Madurai: A 20-year-old man died and another man was injured after the duo fleeing from a series of burglary met with an accident at Melur in Madurai district early on Monday. Family members of the deceased, however, alleged he died in the custody of police due to torture.Police identified the deceased as Seemaraja, a history-sheeter from Thiruppuvanam in Sivaganga district, and the injured as Surya, 21, of Kamudhi in Ramanathapuram district.According to police, the duo burgled a textile shop, a browsing center, and a house in Thirumayam in Pudukottai district on Sunday night and escaped with ₹10,000, a mobile phone, and a few clothes. Seemaraja was riding a two-wheeler via the Melur-Karaikudi bypass.

Around 3am on Monday, when the two-wheeler neared Koothappanpatti of Melur, Seemaraja lost control over it and it rammed into the parapet wall. Seemaraja sustained serious head injuries, police said.Passersby rushed them to Melur Govt Hospital. Doctors declared Seemaraja was brought dead. Surya is receiving treatment and his condition is stable, police added.On Monday morning, police shifted Seemaraja’s body to Govt Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, for autopsy.

Meanwhile, relatives of Seemaraja gathered outside the hospital and blocked a road, alleging Seemaraja died due to police assault. Tension mounted when police denied permission for protesters to meet injured Surya. However, after police allowed Seemaraja’s relatives to meet Surya, the protest was called off.A senior police officer told TOI that there is no foul play and Seemaraja died after a road accident. “Surya confessed to the thefts and narrated the entire incident of the night,” the officer added.Police have registered separate cases of burglary and accident and are investigating.