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.
This story was originally published in theobserverpost.com. Read the full story here.