“Justice for Ajith Kumar”: Tamil Nadu Villages Erupt Over Alleged Police Torture Death
From a temple guard to a headline name, Ajith Kumar’s death in custody has shaken Sivaganga and reignited Tamil Nadu’s custodial violence debate.
Madurai, June 30: In the sweltering heat of Thiruppuvanam town, under a bruised evening sky, villagers gathered with fire in their throats and grief in their eyes. B. Ajith Kumar, a 27-year-old who worked as a temple security guard at the Madapuram Badrakali Amman temple, had gone from police custody to the mortuary in less than 24 hours. And the people here, especially his family, aren’t buying the official line.
“He left in a two-wheeler with the police and came back as a body. What should we believe?” cried a relative, standing outside the Thiruppuvanam police station where the protest began. There’s no slogan too loud when you’re fighting silence, they say.
A Familiar Story in Tamil Nadu’s Interior
Ajith was picked up on June 27 in connection with a gold theft. Around 9.5 sovereigns, according to locals. That alone raised eyebrows. Usually, these thefts barely make headlines unless there’s violence involved. But this time, the violence was not in the theft—it was in the investigation.
According to multiple reports and local whispers, Ajith and four others were dragged to three different spots—a field, a cattle shed, and even a riverbank. Not a police station in sight. Not a single official entry till it was too late. By the time he was taken to the hospital on June 28, he was urinating blood. Not long after, he was declared dead.
“He told us before dying—‘anna, they beat me till I couldn’t breathe,’” said his brother, speaking to reporters with barely concealed rage. This wasn’t just police excess, they believe—it was a straight-up lynching, sanctioned by the uniform.
Suspension Isn’t Justice
Sivaganga SP Ashish Rawat acted swiftly, at least on paper. Six officers suspended, FIR filed, and an internal inquiry initiated. But for the people of Thiruppuvanam, this script is too familiar. From Sathankulam in 2020 to this, they say nothing changes—except the names.
“First, they beat you. Then they hide you. Then they blame your health,” said a local shopkeeper, summing up the unofficial manual of Tamil Nadu’s custodial violence. He wasn’t wrong. Activists say over two dozen custodial deaths have occurred in the state since 2021. Yet convictions? Still a distant dream.
Anger on the Ground, Silence at the Top
By Sunday night, Thiruppuvanam saw an unusual crowd. Not for a festival, not for a funeral—but for justice. Locals, mostly youth and relatives, gathered outside the police station, shouting slogans and demanding a judicial inquiry, not just departmental action. Many held placards with Ajith’s name and the now-viral hashtag: #JusticeForAjithKumar.
Inside the village, there’s a visible fear too. “The police came around asking questions… asking who was talking to media,” one woman said, reluctant to give her name. “People are angry, but they also have to live here.”
Meanwhile, political leaders began lining up their statements. The AIADMK, PMK, NTK, and even the BJP’s state leadership issued sharp condemnations. Most are asking for the case to be handed to the CB-CID or a judicial commission. So far, there’s been no word from the Chief Minister’s office. Just a quiet acknowledgment through police channels that the matter is “under review.”
Not Just About Ajith Anymore
What’s struck a nerve is not just Ajith’s death—it’s the system’s casual cruelty. “We don’t want compensation,” said one protestor. “We want someone to go to jail for what they did to him.”
Ajith wasn’t some known criminal. Just a poor young man trying to make a living guarding a temple. That too a temporary job. His family says he was working double shifts to save up for his sister’s wedding.
“When the police can do this to a temple worker, what hope do we have?” asked another local elder. “They didn’t even produce him before a magistrate. They treated him like a dog.”
A Community on Edge
As of now, the postmortem report is awaited. The police claim they’re cooperating with the inquiry, but trust is at an all-time low. The protest is simmering, not fading. There’s talk of taking the case to court, and several rights organizations, including PUCL, are stepping in.
But the bigger question is one we’ve heard before, too often: will this death mean anything? Or will Ajith Kumar become another forgotten name, another statistic in Tamil Nadu’s long list of custodial casualties?
Back in the village, Ajith’s mother hasn’t spoken since the news came. She sits, stone-faced, beside the charpoy where he used to rest after night shifts. Nothing more to say. Only silence now.
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Amit Singh is a Reporting Fellow at Hindustan Herald, where he covers the intricate dynamics of Indian politics and global geopolitical shifts. Currently pursuing his studies at Delhi University, Amit brings a keen analytical mind and a passion for factual reporting to his daily coverage, providing readers with well-researched insights into the forces shaping national and international affairs.
- Amit Singhhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/amit_s/
- Amit Singhhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/amit_s/
- Amit Singhhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/amit_s/
- Amit Singhhttps://hindustanherald.com/authors/amit_s/
