A video has come up that has sparked outrage as a 27-year-old temple security guard being beaten by police officers in Tamil Nadu’s Sivagangai district has surfaced, intensifying scrutiny over his death in custody and fuelling allegations of police brutality.
The footage, accessed exclusively by India Today, was reportedly recorded on a mobile phone by a temple worker named Sakthiswaran. It appears to show Ajith Kumar being struck with a lathi by members of a special police team. The incident is believed to have occurred while he was in custody in connection with a jewellery theft case.
Ajith Kumar was detained on 27 June for questioning after being accused of leading police to a cowshed where stolen jewellery was allegedly hidden. According to the First Information Report, police claim that Ajith attempted to flee twice and suffered an epileptic seizure during his second escape attempt. He was taken to Thiruppuvanam Hospital and later referred to Sivagangai Government Hospital, where he was declared brought dead at 11:45 a.m. on 28 June.
However, a post-mortem report has contradicted the police narrative, noting at least 18 injuries on his body. These included wounds on his head, limbs, ribs and back, along with dried blood around his ears—findings that raised serious questions about the possibility of custodial violence.
In response to public outrage and mounting evidence, five police officers were arrested and remanded to judicial custody until 15 July. The case has now been handed over to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) for future investigation.
The newly video that has come out is expected to play a crucial role in the inquiry, which will potentially challenge the police's official witness statement and account.
The footage reportedly shows Ajith being beaten while in custody, casting further doubt on claims that his injuries were the result of escape attempts.
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