Five arrested over death of inmate at de-addiction centre

Five men were on Tuesday arrested in connection with the suspicious death of a 39-year-old man at a de-addiction centre near Selaiyur.

Police sources said the deceased, Arunkumar, 39 of Kancheepuram, was admitted to Moon Shine Alco Care Foundation in Sembakkam on August 10 for treatment at the centre. It had more than 50 inmates. When he allegedly attempted to escape from the centre, a staff member and some inmates overpowered him.

Later, they allegedly assaulted him, tied him to a bed and stuffed a cloth into his mouth, the police stated, on August 14. He subsequently became unconscious and died at the centre. The staff initially told the Selaiyur police that he had died due to an illness. The police then retrieved the body and sent it to Government Medical College Hospital in Chengalpattu for a post-mortem.

Based on a complaint from his family, the police initially registered a case of suspicious death. After investigation, they arrested five persons, including a staff member, Manikandan, 36, and four inmates. They were produced before a court and remanded in judicial custody.