Thread by @imranhindu

Sattankulam case hearing - Justice PN Prakash: A competent APP must be appointed to assist the police in custodial deaths case.

Judges unable to hear DSP Anil Kumar properly on WhatsApp call. They are trying to contact him through another phone line.

Judges are talking to DSP Anil Kumar on phone. PNPJ: Have you registered two FIRs? How did you alter the sections? How many have you arrested? At what time?

DSP Anil Kumar is explaining actions taken by him so far to the judges. Says three accused have been arrested and remanded.

Since Kovilpatti Magistrate is already conducting inquiry and also because he is 105 km away, we will allow you to approach Thoothukudi CJM for all procedures under Cr.P.C., judges tell DSP Anil Kumar

Clue materials & seized material objects have already been preserved. They will be given to you. You conduct whatever tests you want to do, judges tell DSP.

PNPJ: Does CBCID have an exclusive APP in Thoothukudi?
Anil Kumar: No
PNPJ : Then we'll order appointment of a good criminal lawyer as APP

Judges to Anil Kumar: Do your work in a way that victim's family gets confidence on you. Wish you all the best.

Judges to AAG K Chellapandian: We have spoken to DSP. Do you want to say anything?

ADGP to judges: TN Govt has passed a GO for conducting well being programmes for policemen in association with NIMHANS.

ADGP Thamaraikannan: We have decided on content of programme. Govt has sanctioned Rs.10 crore. We toured entire State and identified 462 master trainers to be trained by NIMHANS with which a contract was signed for three years. It was signed in Oct 2018.

ADGP: In each district, the programme is conducted on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Family members of policemen can also be brought for the programme.

ADGP: Out of police strength of 1.15 lakh, 90,000 have attended the well being programmes so far.

ADGP is continuing to explain the well being programmes conducted for policemen in stress.

ADGP : Our assessment shows that level of stress is very high for around 5% of policemen in the State.

ADGP: Working relationship between individuals has improved because of our well being programmes. Other States and paramilitary forces have adopted this.

Judges : Very good

ADGP: Renowned psychologist Dr.C. Ramasubramanian is the State nodal officer for well being programmes for policemen.

ADGP is continuing to explain salient features of well being programme for policemen. Judges listening patiently.

ADGP: We are the only State in entire country to conduct well being programme for all police personnel from DGP to Constable. We'll complete the programme for all policemen very soon.

Judges: Very nice to hear about well being programme conducted for policemen in TN

Now Dr. Sekar from NIMHANS is explaining the programme to judges.

NIMHANS expert: Now the well being programme has been interrupted due to COVID-19. The rest of 26,000 police personnel will be covered soon. It is one of the best modules which follows a percolation system right from DGP level to constable.

Dr Sekar from NIMHANS: As of now only 254 police personnel from TN have been trained as Master Trainers. This number should be doubled. The cost incurred is only Rs.883 per police personnel over a period of one year or Rs.69 per month.

Dr. Sekar: After seeing TN police well being programme, Union Home Ministry asked us to do it for ITBP too.

Judges: Thanks a lot Dr. Sekar for enlightening us. How do you rate the stress level?
Dr Sekar: I'll give that in a sealed cover My Lord. I don't want to disclose in open.
Judges: We appreciate that

Dr Sekar: Well being programme has to become part of curriculum in police training. Otherwise the stress level will rise and lead to bad behaviour.

Dr. Sekar: We have only 42 mental health hospitals and only 10,000 mental health officers in the entire country. Depression is going to be very common in future. So, we should concentrate on treating existing cases.

Judges are now talking to psychiatrist Dr. C. Ramasubramanian

Dr. Ramasubramanian: Post Corona, depression cases are going to rise exponentially.

Dr. CRS : Feedback from family members of police personnel was phenomenal. They were able to see the police men smile after a long time. So far we were concentrating on well being. Now we have initiated specialised therapies to cure those with high stress level.

Judges to AAG K Chellapandian: Now that doctors say Post Corona, Stress level of policemen will increase. It is going to be a dangerous situation. Don't abandon this programme.

Judges: Have all your senior officers undergone this training?
ADGP: From ADSP to DGP level, Dr. Sekar of NIMHANS conducts the programme directly.

Justice Prakash: Though we have taken suo Motu case on Sattankulam custodial deaths on investigation angle, our anxiety was to know why a person assaults another human being in a civilised society? There must be some mental issue. That has to be addressed. Govt must look into it.

Justice Prakash:An instance like Sattankulam should never happen in TN. Now, people are scared even to step into a police station. A few bad apples here and there should not be a reason to paint everyone in bad light. You have achieved great progress in Sattankulam case in 24 hrs

Justice Prakash: We are also going to spend our time in this State even after retirement. A good system of police should be there to safeguard the citizens. Continue the well being programme. We'll pass detailed orders later in the day.

Judges want to talk to constable Revathi. She is on phone line. They are talking. Want to know where she will feel safe.

Constable Revathi initially did not pick call from HC. AAG said she may not be aware that it is from HC.

AAG says full protection has been given to constable Revathi. It has appeared in newspapers too.

Judges: We shall pass detailed orders later in the day on Sattankulam issue giving CJM power to deal with powers to remand & so on. You can also do forensic examinations. We shall also nominate APP. We want well being programme to continue and increase number of master trainers

Assistant Solicitor General appears on behalf of CBI.

Case hearing gets over. Orders to be passed later in the day.