Describing two policemen at a local police station as "predators" and "vipers in men's clothes", the Madras High Court today praised the media which brought to light 'inhuman' activities of the policemen who allegedly forced a 19-year-old youth and four juveniles to engage in homosexual acts.
Refuting the charges of the counsel who blamed the press, Justice P. Devadas dismissed anticipatory bail pleas of the two policemen attached to the Mambalam police station, A.Sethuraman and S. Srinivasan.
"...Because of the press, this murky affair, police atrocity came to limelight. Otherwise, the guilty policemen would be roaming happily with impunity. Actually, in this case, these vultures, predators were caught because of the press. Let us not blame the press for having discharged their duty."
A 19-year-old youth and four juveniles were arrested in connection with a theft case on December 10 last year. They were kept in R-1 Mambalam police station and were entrusted to the custody of Head Constables Sethuraman and Srinivasan.
According to the prosecution, the five received " most inhuman treatment." The two policemen allegedly forced the boys to engage in homosexual acts. They were allegedly caned when they refused.
The judge rejected the contention of the counsel for the constables that the arrested never revealed this to the Magistrate while being remanded. "In connection with the theft case, when they were remanded, the boys could not complain of ailment, ill-treatment to the learned Magistrate...It is pertinent to note that the boys were under the control and influence of the policemen... "
There were many materials against petitioners "as to the despicable act alleged to have been committed on the boys..It requires their custodial interrogation."
The judge appreciated the immediate action taken by the DGP (L&O) to direct to a CB-CID investigation and register a case after seeing the news item in the daily.
"...Petitioners wield power and also lathis and weapons. The victims are poor people belonging to lower strata of society. They were alleged to have undergone untold miseries and trauma at the hands of these policemen."
"In such circumstances, if we let loose the petitioners, it is quite likely that they will terrorize, criminally intimidate the victim boys and their families. They will use third degree methods..."
"Then there will be no safety to the boys and their families..... They appear to be vipers in man's clothes," the judge said, declining anticipatory bail.
