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The shocking and violent death of N Dhamendran in a police lock-up on Tuesday from blunt trauma , has triggered urgings for an open inquiry to identify those responsible and to immediately suspend the police officers involved in the interrogation and alleged torture.

The calls came from Klang MP Charles Santiago and also Human Rights group, Suaram, who added that such deaths in custody lend substance to calls for the formation of the long overdue Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.

NONE Charles also asked newly-minted Home Affairs Minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, to buck up and do the right thing by suspending all officers involved in Dhamendran's ( below ) interrogation until the Bukit Aman probe is over.

He said if unattended, Dharmendren's death would end up just as another statistic.

"Peoples' confidence in the police has been taking a steady dip over the past few years, largely triggered by a deep-seated suspicion of the force.

"Reclassifying the case as murder is not enough. We have been disappointed many times with the outcome of the police investigating themselves.

'Don't pull Houdini trick'

"But as the new government has promised transparency and accountability, I urge the police not to play Houdini by trying to make crucial evidence disappear or attempt to cover up for their colleagues," he said.

Suaram, in a statement, condemned Dhamendran's death and urged an independent and transparent probe into the matter, disclose the daily journal of the police station and that the attorney-general initiate proceedings against the officers who had handled the deceased.

"The speedy approach taken by the police in arresting peaceful dissenters should be equally if not more vigorously applied to the officers in this case which had caused Dhamendran's death.

"Without an independent mechanism to punish these blood thirsty officers, the public will see more fatalities in police custody, shooting and spiralling corruption in the force.

"In fact, the police should start focusing on improving the safety of suspects under police supervision and custody," said the non-governmental organisation.

Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang also joined the chorus of those concerned over the rise in the number of deaths in custody and proposed "an inquest" into Dhamendran's death.

The cause of the sudden death must be known. Any delay would affect public perception towards the Barisan Nasional government, he said.

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