Amid Tamil Nadu Custodial Death, Old Video Showing Cops Beating Man Sparks Row
A disturbing video, purportedly from a police station in Tamil Nadu's Theni district, has surfaced amid ongoing outrage over the recent alleged custodial death of a young security guard, Ajith Kumar, in Sivaganga district.
The footage from January this year shows multiple instances of police high-handedness, which has triggered renewed concerns over police brutality and custodial violence in the state.
The video clips with a timestamp of January 14, 2025, between 11:00 am and 12:40 pm, which NDTV can't independently verify, show a man, seemingly in custody, being repeatedly assaulted by police personnel at different times inside the station premises.
One clip shows a uniformed officer thrashing the man on his face as he is escorted in. Other visuals show at least two policemen slapping him several times, kicking him with boots, and one officer hitting and poking him with a stick.
A senior police officer confirmed to NDTV that the man in the video was allegedly drunk and had been taken into custody following complaints from the public that he had created a nuisance and fought in a public place. "He created a ruckus even inside the station," the officer said. However, the official acknowledged the seriousness of the footage and added, "We would have known had he filed a complaint or got admitted. He was perhaps not injured. But whether this was police excess, we will have to wait for the enquiry report."
Interestingly, this footage was not released voluntarily but was part of a set of CCTV clips shared under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in connection with an unrelated case. The lawyer handling that case has now made the video public.
The revelation comes against the backdrop of the alleged custodial killing of 28-year-old Ajith Kumar, a temporary temple security guard from Sivaganga district, who died after allegedly being tortured in police custody over a reported jewellery theft. The incident has sparked widespread public outrage and a judicial probe.
Read more: "Even Murderer Will Not Attack Like This": Madras High Court On Tamil Nadu Custodial Death
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, while hearing the Ajith Kumar case, made scathing observations, remarking that "even a murderer wouldn't be attacked like this." In a significant move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin ordered a CBI probe, stating that the investigation must be above suspicion.
So far, five police personnel have been arrested, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) has been suspended, and the Superintendent of Police (SP) has been placed under compulsory wait.
Tamil Nadu has recorded over 20 custodial deaths in the last four years. While the ruling DMK government has termed such incidents as "unpardonable" and claims stringent action is being taken in each case, critics and human rights activists argue that these repeated cases point to a deeper systemic rot.
The recurring emergence of videos and allegations of custodial violence raises troubling questions about human rights violations by law enforcement and the efficacy of sensitisation efforts by the state to prevent such abuse of power.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Tambaram gets ‘traffic marshal' two-wheelers to tackle congestion, accidents
The Tambaram City Traffic Police (TCTP) have launched an initiative to improve road safety and traffic management by introducing 26 'traffic marshal' two-wheelers. These vehicles will patrol Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road, Rajiv Gandhi Salai (OMR), East Coast Road (ECR), 200 Feet Radial Road, and other important arterial roads within the TCTP limits. Each vehicle is equipped with a public address system, siren, and blinking lights to improve visibility, especially during night patrols and rush hours. The traffic marshals will work in eight-hour shifts, focusing on peak hours, clearing traffic congestion, managing accident scenes, assisting with vehicle breakdowns, and ensuring smooth traffic flow near educational institutions and offices. Launching the initiative on Wednesday (July 2, 2025), Tambaram City Police Commissioner Abin Dinesh Modak said the TCTP has also carried out several improvement drives to make roads safer and more efficient, as well as special drives to remove roadside encroachments on major arterial roads. More than 150 roadside food carts have been removed, Mr. Abin said. Wrong-side driving Strict enforcement against wrong-side driving has led to the registration of more than 4,000 cases. Major changes, like the improvements made at the Kamatchi Hospital Junction, where waiting timing has reduced considerably, have been introduced. Similarly, the implementation of a one-way system in Kundrathur has also helped in easing traffic, he said. As a result of these efforts, traffic rule enforcement has significantly increased. A total of 2,25,109 cases under the Motor Vehicles (MV) Act were registered as of June 2025, up from 1,50,778 cases in 2024. Helmet violation cases alone rose to 48,551, compared to 26,051 last year. Drunken driving enforcement has also been intensified. The TCTP registered 4,827 cases in 2025, up from 1,937 in 2024. All offenders faced licence cancellation as part of stricter penalties. Increased late-night patrolling contributed to a drop in accidents during night hours, he added. The officer said public awareness and community engagement remain a key focus, and campaigns like the 'No Helmet No Ride' programme aim to encourage helmet use. Special drives against wrong-side driving and workshops for auto and cab drivers promote safe driving habits and better legal compliance, he added. All accident-prone areas, or 'black spots', have been fixed through coordination with local civic bodies, road authorities, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), said traffic police officials.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Vijay meets Tamil Nadu custodial death victim's family, offers Rs 2 lakh
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay on Wednesday met the family of 27-year-old Ajith Kumar, who died in police custody in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga, and offered his his visit to their residence in Thirubhuvanam, Vijay paid floral tribute to Ajith Kumar's portrait and handed over financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh to the grieving TVK had strongly condemned the incident, saying the police department was functioning 'cruelly, inhumanly, and immorally' under the leadership of Chief Minister MK The Tamil Nadu government has already announced a compensation package for the family, including Rs 5 lakh, a technician job at Aavin for Ajith Kumar's brother, and a patta for three cents of land in Theni revenue village. Cooperation Minister I Periyakaruppan personally handed over the appointment letter to the Minister Stalin also spoke to the family over the phone to express his condolences, while Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami called them the next day to convey his on Tuesday announced that the case had been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).'This is an act that cannot be justified or excused by anyone,' Stalin said, adding that five policemen have been named as accused. He said the case was being transferred to the CBI to ensure there is no doubt about the fairness of the investigation.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
72 Hours After MNS Workers Slap Mumbai Shopkeeper, Cops To Question Accused
Mumbai: Over 72 hours after a Mumbai shopkeeper was assaulted for not speaking in Marathi - his ordeal filmed and circulated online by the assailants - and over 24 hours after the FIR was filed, the police will finally record the statements of the accused, sources told NDTV Thursday morning. The seven men - members of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which has refused to apologise for the assault - will be deposed at the Deputy Commissioner of Police's office. It is unclear if they will be taken into custody after their statements are recorded. Action against the accused - the first concrete step in what has been dubbed the 'MNS slapgate' case - comes after sustained pressure by NDTV, and demands for justice for 48-year-old Babulal Khimji Chaudhary, the owner of the 'Jodhpur Sweet Shop' in Mumbai's Mira Road suburb. The video of the awful assault, which took place past 10.30 pm Sunday and has been widely shared online - showed the MNS goons surrounding Chaudhary and threatening him with worse action, including forcibly shutting down his business, if his staff and he don't speak in Marathi. Bagharam, a migrant worker from Rajasthan, spoke to NDTV after the assault. He said the MNS thugs wanted to buy bottles of water but when he spoke to them in Hindi, they demanded he speak in Marathi. "I said we speak all languages, so they threatened to beat me up..." The thugs then accosted Chaudhary and attacked him. READ | "Said Have To Speak In Marathi": Man Threatened By Raj Thackeray Party Workers As horrific as the assault was, the matter was compounded after the MNS - ironically leading a protest against the 'imposition of Hindi' in the state - refused to apologise to Chaudhary. The party accused Chaudhary of being 'arrogant'. It said he had provoked his attackers by stating that all languages are spoken in Maharashtra, a statement that is correct. Experts have pointed out every Indian has the right to speak the language of their choice, a right primarily protected by Article 19 of the Constitution, which esures freedom of speech and expression. The party has also complained because seven men were named in the FIR names, while the video shows only three hitting Chaudhary. Meanwhile, Babulal Chaudhary, whose business has been flourishing on Mira Road for the past two decades, told NDTV he would fight to ensure the MNS goons are held to account. "Mumbai is my 'karmabhoomi'... but now I am living in fear. I want safety, I want to feel safe," he said. Chaudhary - who intends to hold a protest march despite an ominous 'warning' from the MNS - has been backed by fellow traders, many of whom shut shops for the day to signal their support.
