Palaniswami alleges custodial death of man in Thirupuvanam police station

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday referred to the custodial death of a man in Sivaganga district. He demanded an investigation by a judicial magistrate, punishment for those responsible for the death, and compensation for the bereaved family.

B. Ajith Kumar, a temple security guard at Madappuram, was taken into custody by the Thirupuvanam police on a complaint that a devotee’s gold jewel was missing. Alleging that Ajith Kumar died after being assaulted by the police, his relatives staged a protest and refused to take possession of his body, the former Chief Minister said in a social media post.

“Even if the police believed that an accused person had indeed committed an offence, they could only follow the legal procedure and arrest him before getting him remanded in judicial custody. They cannot take the law into their own hands,” Mr. Palaniswami said.

He condemned the Chief Minister for his alleged inability to administer the police force. 

AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran criticised the DMK government and the Chief Minister for the alleged custodial death. He urged the Chief Minister to take initiatives for police reforms.