Sivaganga (Tamil Nadu), March 9 The opposition AIADMK in Tamil Nadu has alleged that a 26-year-old man, who died recently while in police custody, was brutally tortured.
The party has strongly condemned the incident, while the Tamil Nadu police maintain that the death was due to health complications following injuries sustained during an attempt to evade arrest.
Through its official social media channels, the AIADMK has made serious allegations against the state police, categorizing the incident as a "custodial death." The party claims that Akash Delison, an engineering graduate from a Scheduled Caste background, was subjected to brutal torture after being picked up for questioning.
It alleges that the police's claim that the youth sustained injuries by falling off a bridge is a "pretext" to cover up a physical assault that occurred in a forest area during the investigation.
According to a statement issued by the office of the state Director General of Police on Sunday, Delison was a known history-sheeter with multiple pending cases, including one for attempted murder.
He was wanted in connection with an assault on March 6, where he and an accomplice allegedly attacked two individuals with weapons with the intent to murder. During the arrest process, Delison sustained severe leg injuries after falling off a bridge while attempting to escape, police said.
He was treated at the Sivaganga Medical College and later remanded to judicial custody by the Judicial Magistrate, Manamadurai, until March 18. On the Magistrate's direction, he was shifted to the Convict Ward at Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), Madurai, on March 7.
On the morning of March 8, the release states, Delison experienced breathing difficulties while undergoing treatment. Despite attempts by a medical team to revive him, he succumbed at approximately 5.45am.
While the police claim that the accused was under medical supervision and judicial remand at the time of his death, the AIADMK has called for accountability, citing the family's claims that the deceased had informed them of being beaten prior to his remand.
In a post on 'X', the main opposition party alleges that Delison had informed his mother about the police beatings prior to his death.
Following the news of his passing, family members and locals staged a road protest in Manamadurai demanding justice and a transparent investigation. The AIADMK has called upon the state government to take responsibility for the "recurring" instances of custodial deaths and has demanded a high-level probe into the conduct of the involved officers.
