"They were beaten to death.”
International actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas has condemned the injustice faced by Jayaraj and his son Fenix of Tamil Nadu after they were tortured by police.
Jayaraj was taken into police custody by Sathankulam police officers for exceeding the lockdown curfew by 15 minutes when he closed his shop.
Soon after, his son Fenix who went to inquire about his father’s arrest was also taken into custody.
Reportedly, the father-son duo was brutally beaten, tortured and sexually assaulted by officials in jail.
Unfortunately, Fenix died in hospital while his father succumbed to respiratory illness and died the following morning.
According to Fenix’s lawyer, advocate S Manimaran who was also an eyewitness to the brutality said:
“We were standing out and we were seeing the whole incident from outside through a glass gate.
“Fenix and his father were beaten. In the morning, there was blood all over the place where they were sitting.”
He further added that Fenix’s flesh was ripped off:
“I gave them four clothes to change. We had laid down a blanket in the seat of the car when we went to pick them up.
“Fenix had lost a lot of flesh on his back. He was a well-built man. The car driver was in tears seeing their state.
“The spot where Fenix sat was covered with blood, the place where Jayaraj was sitting was also all blood.
“The blankets are still with us. They were beaten to death.”
Other eyewitnesses also highlighted that the father-son duo was mercilessly beaten.
Taking to Twitter, Priyanka condemned the inhumane brutalities against Jayaraj and Fenix.
The actress demanded justice for the innocent lives lost. She wrote:
“Reeling from what I’m hearing. Absolutely stunned, sad and angry. No human being deserves such brutality, whatever be their crime.
“The guilty must not be allowed to go unpunished. We need facts. I cannot even begin to imagine what the family must be going through.
“Sending strength and prayers. We need to use our collective voices to seek #JusticeForJayarajandBennicks.”
#JusticeForJayarajandBennicks pic.twitter.com/vGi8m63If2
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) June 26, 2020
Many more Bollywood stars have also come out in support of Jayaraj and Fenix.
Actress Anushka Sharma wrote: “Hope this is investigated thoroughly and justice prevails!”
Shamita Shetty took to Twitter to share her shock and condolences to the family. She said:
“2 ppl died because of police brutality in Tamil Nadu’s Tuticorin district!!!!
“This is just so sad! My condolences to the family.. absolutely shameful police behaviour in TN!!”
2 ppl died because of police brutality in Tamil Nadu s Tuticorin district!!!! This is just so sad! My Condolences to the family.. absolutely shameful police behaviour in TN!! #Tuticorin #PoliceBrutality
— Shamita Shetty ? (@ShamitaShetty) June 26, 2020
Many people like Priyanka are demanding justice against police brutality and want to see the perpetrators punished for their heinous crime.