Tamil Nadu Temple Guard Allegedly Dies In Police Custody

A temple guard named Ajit Kumar, aged 27, from Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district, has died while in police custody. His family alleges that his death resulted from torture during detention. Ajit was initially detained for questioning regarding a theft at the Madapuram Kaliamman temple, where he worked as a security guard.

Ajit's brother, Naveen, claimed that five men were taken by the police and subjected to severe beatings during interrogation. "Five people, including me, were taken and we were on rounds and beaten. She [the complainant] had asked him [Ajit Kumar] to park her vehicle because she was handicapped, but he didn't know how to drive. So he asked someone else. Later, police said the jewellery was missing. They hit him badly," Naveen said.

Allegations of Police Brutality

The theft complaint was filed by a 42-year-old devotee who visited the temple with her family. She alleged that over 80 grams of gold jewellery disappeared from her car after asking Ajit to park it due to her disability. Ajit reportedly sought help from another person to move the vehicle since he couldn't drive.

Naveen further alleged that the police used physical force to extract a confession from Ajit. "They even hit me for half an hour before him to persuade him to confess. I was made to kneel... My brother had no criminal background. He was gagged and beaten," he added.

Political Reactions and Demands

The incident has sparked outrage among opposition leaders who have condemned the alleged custodial death and demanded accountability. AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami called for a judicial inquiry into the matter and compensation for Ajit's family.

Palaniswami criticised Chief Minister MK Stalin's handling of the police department, stating: "If someone is found guilty, the person should be arrested and produced in front of the court, not subjected to police brutality. I condemn the puppet CM who is in charge of the Police Department but unable to govern it."

Calls for Justice

BJP State President Nainar Nagendran expressed grave concerns over what appears to be a pattern of police misconduct. He highlighted recent incidents involving police violence against civilians and urged immediate action from the Chief Minister.

"With relatives claiming that seven policemen beat Ajit Kumar for two days in the name of enquiry, it raises serious suspicions of a lock-up death. Just last week, three women-including a pregnant woman-who tried to file a sexual assault complaint were attacked by a policeman. Now Ajit's brother says they were bound and beaten inside a moving vehicle. This shows the growing pattern of police brutality," he said.