by FOEJ DESK
Tension simmered in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai Government Rajaji Hospital following the death of a 26-year-old Dalit youth, arrested in connection with an assault case and later dying in judicial custody. According to the family, the deceased was subjected to the brutal custodial torture and caste-based discrimination by the Manamadurai police station.
The deceased has been identified as Akash Delison (26), a graduate from Krishnarajapuram. He was arrested along with another youth, Guna (23), after a sickle attack on two individuals in Zion Nagar on Friday, March 6, which was captured on CCTV footage.
A statement issued by the office of the State Director General of Police on Sunday said that Akash was a known history-sheeter with multiple cases pending against him, including one for attempted murder.
The deceased was treated at the Sivaganga Medical College and after that remained in judicial custody by the Judicial Magistrate, Manamadurai, until March 18. After that, he was shifted to the Convict Ward at Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai.
On March 8, he experienced breathing issues while undergoing treatment and later succumbed to injuries.
“They placed stones on his legs and beat him until his bones shattered,” Rajesh Kannan, the deceased’s father, said while talking to reporters.
Meantime, Opposition All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu has strongly condemned the incident. “The reports that a young man named Akash from Manamadurai in Sivaganga district has died after being taken to a police station for questioning and allegedly assaulted by the police are shocking.
This story was originally published in foej.in. Read the full story here.