Tuticorin custodial death: Celebs demand justice for Bennicks and Jayaraj

Ankit Kumar June 27, 2020

409 2 minutes read

Priyanka Chopra, Taapsee Pannu, Shikhar Dhawan and many more asked for justice

The entire world came together after the death of George Floyd in the United States due to police brutality. Back home, the death of father-son duo in Tamil Nadu due to alleged police brutality has caused a furore across India.

After the news broke about the deaths of P Jayaraj and his son Bennicks, social media went abuzz with people asking for justice for the death of the father-son duo. #JusticeForJayarajAndFenix trended on twitter for a couple of days along with some other hashtags related to the issue. Celebrities from across the domain including Cinema and Cricket condemned the police brutality and demanded justice for the family of the deceased. Many celebrities including actress Priyanka Chopra, Kajal Aggarwal, Taapsee Pannu and Cricketers, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan and many more took to Twitter to demand justice.

Here is the list of celebrities who have tweeted against the police brutality against Jayaraj and Bennicks.

#JusticeForJayarajandBennicks pic.twitter.com/vGi8m63If2
— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) June 26, 2020

What happened to a father and son at the hands of those policemen is wrong at every human level and every single person irrespective of place of origin or political belief needs to stand up for them. It is plain horrific and wrong. DEMAND action. #JusticeforJayarajAndFenix
— Vir Das (@thevirdas) June 26, 2020

We live in truly barbaric, sickening times. Human beings are the worst species on this planet, and the cops who did this are worse. I hope they are given the maximum penalty by our Justice system. But do we have one that works? I guess we'll see.#JusticeForJeyarajAndFenix
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) June 26, 2020

Every single life matters. We should make sure that this act of brutality is meted out with justice, and I am not sure justice will be any solace for the family of #JeyarajandFenix and my thoughts are with them.
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) June 26, 2020

அடிப்பவனுக்கு தேவை ஆயுதம். வலிப்பவருக்கு தேவை காரணம்.இனத்துக்காக, மதத்துக்காக,நிறத்துக்காகன்னு போய், இப்போ எதுக்கு சாகுறோம்னே தெரியாம செத்துப் போயிட்டாங்க அப்பாவும் மகனும்.கடந்து செல்வது எளிதல்ல, நீதி கிடைக்காமல் மறந்து செல்வது மனிதமல்ல. மனிதம் எங்கே#JusticeforJayarajAndFenix
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) June 27, 2020

Horrified to hear about the brutality inflicted upon Jeyaraj & Fenix in Tamil Nadu. We must raise our voice and make sure justice is given to the family. 🙏 #JusticeForJeyarajAndFenix
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) June 26, 2020

I am so so shocked and pained and to a large extent just unsure, how we have become such a horrible race.. This incident is so brutal, it actually breaks my heart.. Just not done💔💔 #JusticeforJayarajAndFenix https://t.co/YoMxSo8jW5
— Genelia Deshmukh (@geneliad) June 26, 2020

This is tragic & absolute National Shame. It sends shivers down my spine even reading about it. We all must stand together against this barbaric brutality. #JusticeForJeyarajAndFenix https://t.co/Srn5GFaG7p
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) June 26, 2020

This might just be one case out of many but it takes only one case to begin the snowball effect. #JusticeforJayarajAndFenix
It could’ve been anyone we know. Details are scary and gut wrenching.
— taapsee pannu (@taapsee) June 26, 2020

I couldn’t even listen to this whole video. Grotesque and gruesome. The cops involved need a harsher punishment than just a transfer 😡😡 #JusticeForJeyarajAndFenix https://t.co/WaoNSIS8ur
— Kajal Aggarwal (@MsKajalAggarwal) June 27, 2020

This is heartbreaking .I am disgusted. This kind of brutality is inhuman and no one has the right to treat another life in this manner .Makes me sick to the stomach. Strength to the family members of the deceased .This should not be tolerated. I demand #JusticeforJayarajAndFenix https://t.co/pPwC2ME8Vr
— Rakul Singh (@Rakulpreet) June 27, 2020

Terrified to hear the brutality inflicted upon Jeyaraj and Fenix !Wat an insult these maniacs hv caused 2 our police department &country
The culprits cannot &should not get https://t.co/7YdGX9hyvG front of the law every1 is the same justice must b done #JusticeForJeyarajAndFenix
— Hansika (@ihansika) June 26, 2020

Know about the case in details

Reportedly, P Jayaraj (59) and his son J Bennicks (31) mistakenly referred as Fenix at various places) were picked up by Tamil Nadu police for questioning on 19^th June in Tuticorin’s Sathankulam for allegedly violating lockdown rules. According to the police, the father-son duo kept their mobile accessories shop open beyond the permissible hours on 19^th June.

The News Minute reported that the local police then asked for the remand of Bennicks and Jayaraj from magistrate B Saravanan. The Magistrate allegedly gave the remand without seeing the physical condition of the father and son duo.

Bennicks, who was moved to Kovilpatti General Hospital after he fell ill on June 22, died in the hospital. His father Jayaraj also died a day later. It is alleged that both the father and son were tortured by police while in custody which caused their deaths. Some media reports have suggested that Bennicks and his father were also sexually assaulted in police custody.

The family of Jayaraj and Bennicks have asked to register a murder case against the two sub-inspectors, alleging that they were responsible for the deaths.

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