Chennai, Nov 20: Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has rejected the opposition's demand for a judicial inquiry into the recent Doosi incident in which a mob, including police sub-inspector J Haridas attacked a police station. He said the police station, which was closed after the incident, would be reopened and those arrested for violence would be released.The Chief Minister, who was opposing leave for an adjournment motion on the Doosi incident, said Haridas had a history of mental illness and was admitted to the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) at Kilpauk twice. When he was examined on November 13 by the IMH doctors, he had written incoherently in Tamil and English revealing the mental illness. Moreover, Haridas' brother Devadas and mother Logambal, who is the president of Thazhambur Panchayat Union, said Haridas suffered from mental illness even before he joined the police force.Haridas, a Dalit, was selected in 1995 and completed sub-inspector's training in 1997. He was posted at the Doosi police stationon December 18, 1998. He is said to be a member of the DMK.The CM said an anonymous letter was received on October 26-27 that the Doosi police was not acting effectively against prohibition offenders. This seemed to have spurred Haridas into action. On October 27 and 28, he went to the nearby Chitlapakkam and Narasamapuram villages armed with his revolver and an aruval and nabbed some prohibition offenders. There were complaints that he ill-treated them.On October 30, Haridas came to the Doosi police station and threatened to commit suicide by consuming poison and get the station staff arrested under the Protection of Civil Rights Act. He was then admitted to the Kancheepuram General Hospital. Two constables kept guard.On the next day, he escaped to Doosi where he complained that he was suspended and that he was tortured. (The CM said Haridas had not been suspended then. The suspension order was typed out only on November 3 and had not been collected by Haridas since he was in hospital). About 300persons gathered in front of the police station and ignoring officials pleas, demanded Haridas' reinstatement (though he was not suspended at that time). Haridas joined them and abused the officials.Later the mob went on a rampage, snapped wires of wireless sets and telephone connections, manhandled the inspector and damaged the furniture, besides the door and windows of the building. A jeep was gutted and another partially burnt down. In all, Rs five lakh worth government property was destroyed.
