Home / Crime and Justice / Nine Cops Get Death Penalty for Custodial Torture
Nine Cops Get Death Penalty for Custodial Torture
6 Apr
Summary
- Nine policemen received death sentences for extreme custodial brutality.
- A father and son died in police custody in Sathankulam in 2020.
- Victims allegedly endured severe assault and sexual violence within the station.
In a landmark verdict, nine policemen in Tamil Nadu have been sentenced to death for the extreme custodial brutality that resulted in the deaths of a father, P Jayaraj, and his son, J Benicks, in Sathankulam in June 2020. The court in Madurai district pronounced the sentences after proceedings that spanned over five years, characterizing the actions as a grave abuse of authority.
The victims, who ran a mobile phone shop, were taken into police custody on June 19, 2020, allegedly for violating COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. However, eyewitness accounts and subsequent investigations revealed a brutal assault within the police station throughout the night. Allegations included severe physical violence and sexual assault, with witnesses describing harrowing scenes.
Jayaraj and Benicks died in custody within four days of their arrest, with official reports citing medical complications. This triggered widespread public outrage and protests across Tamil Nadu, drawing national and international attention. The case was eventually handed over to the CBI, leading to the arrest of several police personnel.
The court emphasized that while many police officers serve with integrity, this ruling was intended to deter future abuses of power. The sentencing of nine officers to death for this case, deemed "rarest of rare," signifies a strong judicial stance against custodial torture.
