A 26-year-old Dalit man died in judicial custody at the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai in the early hours of Sunday, triggering protests by his family and community members who alleged that police had deliberately broken his leg during arrest and subjected him to brutal torture. The deceased has been identified as Akash Denison of Krishnapuram Colony in Manamadurai, Sivaganga district.
Police said Akash developed breathing difficulties while undergoing treatment at the hospital and died shortly thereafter. His family flatly rejected this account and alleged that the police were directly responsible for his death.
What Police Say Happened
Akash was one of two people arrested in connection with an assault case registered by the Manamadurai police on March 6. According to police, Akash and his associate Guna, aged 23, allegedly attacked two men, P Jeyakumar and R Alagarswamy, with a machete near Zion Nagar in Manamadurai late on the night of March 5 following a petty quarrel.
Police said Akash sustained a fracture to his leg while attempting to evade arrest. He was first admitted to the Government Sivaganga Medical College Hospital and later transferred to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for further treatment. He had been remanded to judicial custody by the Manamadurai Judicial Magistrate until March 18.
Family Alleges Deliberate Torture and Casteist Abuse
Akash’s father Rajesh Kannan gave a starkly different version of events. He said the police had taken his son to an isolated location, placed a stone on his leg and beaten him until the bone broke. He rejected the police claim that his son had slipped while fleeing.
“They placed a stone on his leg and beat him, breaking his leg. We did not even know that he had been admitted to the Sivaganga Government Hospital for treatment. Later he was shifted to the Madurai Government Hospital,” he told reporters.
Rajesh Kannan said his son had been speaking to the family as recently as Saturday and had described the police brutality to his mother while still alive.
“Akash told my wife about the police brutality while he was alive. Even the police inspector told my wife about breaking his leg,” he said.
The family also alleged that casteist slurs were used against Akash during the alleged assault.”
The police could have left him alive just by breaking his leg instead of killing him,” the grieving father said.
Rights Groups Condemn the Death
Henri Tiphagne, advisor to Joint Action Against Custodial Torture Tamil Nadu, condemned the police in a video statement, calling Akash’s death the 26th custodial death in Tamil Nadu. He said the youth was brutally assaulted before being taken to the hospital and demanded that the post-mortem be conducted strictly in accordance with all due procedures and legal guidelines.
Protests Erupt, Family Refuses to Accept Body
Separate protests broke out in Manamadurai and outside the Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, led by Akash’s family and community members. The protesters demanded action against the policemen responsible, registration of a case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, financial compensation for the family and a government job for a family member.
The family has refused to accept the body until their demands are met. The body remains in the GRH morgue pending post-mortem examination and a magisterial inquiry. A judicial inquiry has also been commenced in connection with the death.
A heavy police contingent led by Manamadurai Deputy Superintendent of Police Raja has been deployed at the hospital mortuary, and senior officials are in talks with the family and community leaders to ease the tension.
