CHENNAI: After a man was beaten by police officers in Tamil Nadu and he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning. The incident took place at a check post near Ethapur in Salem on Tuesday evening. The deceased is Murugesan, a native of Salem. Police arrested SSI Periyaswamy in connection with the incident.

Liquor stores in Salem were closed following the Covid surge. On his way back after going to Kallakurichi, a nearby district, Murugesan was stopped by the police. He was then brutally beaten with a lathi under the leadership of SSI Periyaswamy. Murugesan, who fell on the road, was again thrashed brutally by policemen. However, police said that Murugesan was beaten after he resorted to verbal abuse. Murugesan, who was critically injured in the head, was rushed to a nearby hospital by his friends. He was later shifted to Salem Medical College but died on Wednesday morning.

SSI Periyaswamy, who led the brutal thrashing, has been suspended following the controversy over the incident. He has been charged with murder. Jayaraj, a businessman, and his son Bennix were beaten to death by police in Thoothukudi in June last year which sparked major controversy.