Temple security guard's custodial death kicks up political row in Tamil Nadu, 5 accused cops held

The death of Ajith Kumar, who worked as a security guard at a famous temple in Thirupuvanam in Sivaganga district has kicked up a storm.

The 27-year-old died after being allegedly tortured by six policemen of a “special team” formed to probe his role into a complaint filed by a mother-daughter duo that 10 sovereigns of gold went missing from their car outside the temple premises. 

The five accused cops were arrested late Monday night by Sivaganga police.

The death of a civilian in police custody – the victim was taken from one place to another in Thirupuvanam on June 28 leading to his unfortunate death on June 29 – has led to a major political storm in Tamil Nadu with even the alliance partners of the ruling DMK joining the Opposition chorus for 'strict action' against the policemen who erred and their arrest.

PMK demanded the resignation of Chief Minister M K Stalin, who holds the Home portfolio. 

An autopsy conducted on Ajit Kumar’s body has revealed over 15 external injury marks and grievous internal injuries. The deceased’s brother, Naveen Kumar, who was also detained by the “special police team” alleged that his brother was brutally thrashed in front of him and he was declared dead at a private hospital where he was taken on June 29 morning. 

Sub-magistrate Venkatesh Prasad is conducting an inquiry into the custodial torture and death with Naveen Kumar deposing before him and testifying against the police. 

Sivaganga District police have placed six policemen – Prabhu, Sankara Manikandan, Raja, Anand, Kannan, and Ramachandran – under suspension but Naveen Kumar called it an “eyewash.”

“We don’t need any money. We need justice for my brother. He did no wrong, but was killed by police based on an oral complaint by two women,” Naveen Kumar said on Monday. 

Chief Minister M K Stalin-led dispensation has been tight-lipped for the past two days, prompting the AIADMK and BJP to ask why his heart beats only for people who die when the DMK occupies the opposition benches in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

They were referring to the DMK’s proactiveness in seeking justice for P Jeyaraj and Emmanuel Bennix, a father son-duo from Sathankulam, who were killed in police custody in June 2020 – an incident that made national headlines. 

Ajith Kumar’s death marks the 24th case of a person dying in police custody since May 2021 when the DMK government assumed office, according to the BJP.

DMK has been under criticism for “poor” law and order situation in Tamil Nadu for the past four years and the latest custodial death only adds to their narrative with just a year left for the 2026 Assembly polls. 

Not just AIADMK and BJP, but NTK and other political parties too launched a campaign seeking justice for Ajith Kumar. “Even if police suspect someone of a crime, they must follow due legal process and custodial torture is unacceptable,” Palaniswami said.

VCK and CPI(M), allies of the DMK, on Monday termed police taking the law into their hands as “unacceptable” and sought strict, not ceremonial, action against the policemen involved in the incident. “We don’t want anyone to die in police custody. We have raised the matter with the government whenever such incidents come to light. It is unfortunate that such incidents recur,” VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said. 

CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam demanded a detailed inquiry headed by a sitting judge of the Madras High Court since the victim’s brother has alleged that he was an eyewitness to the police torture. It all started on June 27 when Sivagami and her daughter visited the Madapuram Badrakaliamman Temple in Thirupuvanam and asked Ajith Kumar to help park their car. 

The victim, it is believed, sought the help of others in parking the car following which the duo alleged that 10 sovereigns of gold went missing from their vehicle. The police detained Ajith Kumar, his brother Naveen Kumar, and three others and let them off by June 27 evening, but only to pick them up once again and take them to different locations before beating up the deceased.