The custodial death of a 29-year-old temple watchman, Ajith Kumar, on June 29 has rekindled the conversation on police violence in Tamil Nadu. The revelation that 24 individuals have died in police custody in Tamil Nadu over the past four years has triggered public outrage and renewed scrutiny of law and order practices in the state.
India reported 73 deaths in police custody across the country in 2022, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. The response from the administration, however, has been notably subdued. Despite repeated occurrences of such deaths, no substantial action or reform has followed, and this inaction is increasingly being perceived as political indifference.
According to the activists and opposition in Tamil Nadu, there have been 24 custodial deaths since the DMK formed the government in 2021. However, according to the reply in the Lok Sabha, Tamil Nadu’s custodial deaths have come down from 2020 to 2023, reporting 13 deaths during the three years. What makes the current situation particularly stark is the contrast between past rhetoric and present reality.
When in opposition, the DMK was vocal in its condemnation of custodial deaths under the AIADMK government. The 2020 deaths of Jayaraj and Bennix in Sathankulam, who died after an alleged police assault, prompted widespread protests and criticism. DMK leaders described the deaths as “human rights violations” and called for the then Chief Minister’s resignation.
However, since assuming power in 2021, the DMK has presided over a worsening record of custodial deaths, with the Ajith Kumar case being only the latest. The silence from those who once led protests is now drawing accusations of hypocrisy and inaction.
The list of custodial deaths across Tamil Nadu paints a bleak picture. Victims include Muruganandam (Ariyalur), Gokul (Chengalpattu), Vignesh, Appuraj, Akash (Chennai), Bhaskar (Cuddalore), Shankar (Karur), Prabhakaran, Chinnadurai, Vigneshwaran (Namakkal), Ajith Kumar (Pudukkottai), Balakumar (Ramanathapuram), Thangamani (Tiruvannamalai), Dravidamani, Sulaiman, Thadiveeran (Tiruchy), Santhakumar (Tirunelveli), Thangasamy (Tiruvallur), Karthi (Tenkasi), Arputharaja, Raja (Madurai), Vigneshwaran, Jayakumar, Thangapandi (Villupuram), and Senthil (Virudhunagar, Dharmapuri). Each case raises questions about investigation procedures, custodial treatment, and the absence of medical assistance, suggesting a systemic issue rather than isolated events.
In its 2021 election manifesto, the DMK promised significant police reforms, including ensuring police accountability, protecting human rights, increasing transparency in investigations, installing CCTV surveillance in police stations, and establishing independent complaint committees. Yet, four years into its term, these promises remain largely unfulfilled.
Minimal progress has been made in improving surveillance systems or enforcing public safety measures inside police stations. The gap between promises and execution has deepened public disillusionment, especially among those who once believed the party’s reformist stance.
Human rights groups and opposition parties now argue that the rise in custodial deaths is directly tied to outdated investigation methods, unchecked police aggression, and delayed medical care. They stress that without structural reform, accountability mechanisms, and prompt interventions, such deaths will continue-and with them, a growing distrust in the state’s institutions.
