In a significant legal ruling, nine police officers in India have been sentenced to death following the custodial deaths of a father and son in Tamil Nadu during the Covid-19 lockdown. P Jeyaraj, 58, and his son Benicks, 38, were detained for allegedly keeping their mobile phone shop open in violation of lockdown regulations, dying shortly thereafter in prison.
The court’s sentencing came after the brutality of their treatment was revealed. The judge highlighted that the two men were stripped and severely beaten in front of each other, describing the actions of the officers as a clear abuse of authority with intent to kill. The ruling stated, 'They attacked unarmed people. They should not be forgiven,' emphasizing that neither age nor educational background should mitigate their sentencing.
A total of ten police officers were arrested in connection with the brutal deaths, though one accused officer died from Covid in 2020.
The case sparked widespread protests across Tamil Nadu, echoing a growing concern over police brutality in India. High-profile figures, including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and cricket star Shikhar Dhawan, voiced their demand for justice on social media.
Advocates for human rights point out that deaths in custody are common in India, often exacerbated by torture and coercive tactics used by police to extract confessions. UN experts have recently urged India to reform its policing practices to adhere to international human rights norms.
