Two weeks after a 25-year-old man died after allegedly being beaten up at a police station in Chennai, unverified CCTV footage has surfaced online purportedly showing the man running on a road, falling down and being beaten up by two policemen. The footage has, once again, sparked a debate on custodial torture and given weight to the man’s family’s allegations that he died due to police torture.
On April 18, the Secretariat Colony police detained V Vignesh and his friend Suresh from an autorickshaw for allegedly possessing ganja near Kelly's signal in the city. The police claimed that Vignesh attempted to attack them with a knife and they managed to escape. Later, both were taken to the Secretariat Colony police station. Hours later, on April 19, Vignesh was declared dead on arrival when the police took him to a hospital saying he had vomited after eating breakfast and suffered a seizure.
In the video, a man can be seen running from the main road to a narrow street and falling down after losing balance. He is chased by two policemen and one of them can be seen beating him once with a stick. A policeman can be seen picking something from the ground.
The Secretariat Colony police were not available for comment.
After Vignesh’s death, his family raised a hue and cry saying he died due to police brutality and alleged that they were being paid Rs 1 lakh to keep mum on the issue. Opposition parties jumped in and demanded the government take action against the officers.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin then announced a solatium of Rs 10 lakh to Vignesh’s kin, said the government would bear Suresh’s medical expenses, and transferred the case to CB-CID. A sub-inspector, a constable, and a home guard were placed under suspension.
Conversation Starters to Engage and Interact with Youth
Approach youth with a calm demeanor. Youth are particularly attuned to both verbal and non-verbal judgment from adults. Whether you are in your car, on foot, or on a bike, engaging with young people in your community is essential to developing rapport. If patrolling in your car, take a few minutes to get out and engage in conversation. There may be instances where youth may not want to engage in conversation and that is okay; your efforts can still make an impact. Keep conversations lighthearted and friendly. Share your interests and experiences to connect on a personal and human level. Offer a glimpse into who you are as a person, not just as a police officer. Below are some informal conversation starters and topics.
Ways to Build Positive Interactions with Youth
Get involved:
Take time to get involved with activities that are geared towards young people. Youth in the community often welcome officers to join them in activities such as football, basketball, playing on the playground, bike rides, and walks.
Show Support:
Show interest and empathy when there are challenging community situations. Show your support by actively listening to what the youth have to say. Help them to understand and reassure them that their needs are valid and continue to follow up with them.
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