CHENNAI: In a rare instance, three retired police personnel – a sub-inspector and two head constables – then attached to Kotturpuram police station were found guilty of assaulting a man while in custody, leading to his death within hours of him being sent from the police station, were sentenced to life imprisonment by a city court on Tuesday.

The incident happened in March 2009. In the intervening 16 years till the verdict was given, two other head constables, who were included as accused in the case, died.

According to the prosecution, the victim, R Palani (32), was taken to the police station based on a public nuisance complaint on March 12 evening. When the officials tried to obtain a drunkenness certificate, he refused to cooperate. Angry over this, the officials brutally assaulted

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