The postmortem report in the custodial death case of Ajithkumar, a young man from Thirubhuvanam in Sivaganga district, has confirmed that he was subjected to extreme physical torture, leading to his death. The report, which details over 50 injuries on his body, has sparked widespread public outrage and prompted the Tamil Nadu government to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Ajithkumar, who worked as a guard at the Madapuram temple, died while in police custody after he was taken away for investigation by Thirubhuvanam police. His family alleged he was tortured by the police, and massive protests followed across Tamil Nadu demanding justice. Political parties and civil society organisations condemned the incident, and mounting pressure led to the arrest of five police personnel and swift disciplinary action against senior officers.
Gruesome Findings in Postmortem Report
According to the postmortem report Ajithkumar had a total of 50 external injuries, including 12 abrasions and 44 wounds spread from head to toe.
The wounds ranged in length from 9 cm to 23 cm and were deep enough to reach muscle and bone, indicating repeated blows with heavy objects.
The injuries were in multiple directions and layered, suggesting sustained and repeated assault on the same body parts.
Cigarette burn marks were found in three places on his left hand.
He had hemorrhaging in the brain at two sites, and injuries were present on both sides of the skull, the middle of the skull, and all over the head, consistent with being beaten with a stick.
There were signs of convulsions, tongue biting, swollen red eyes, and bleeding from the ears, pointing to a severe head injury.
Six large wounds were identified among the more than 50 injuries.
45 out of the 50 injuries were classified as deep wounds.
Internally, there were hemorrhages in the heart at two locations, as well as bleeding in the liver.
The posterior wall of the left ventricle showed petechial hemorrhages.
There was a 3 x 1.5 cm affected area at the apex of the heart, along with narrowed coronary ostia and damage to the aortic root, all of which contributed to his death.
His stomach contained 220 ml of brown liquid and 100 grams of partially digested rice, but the large intestine was empty, suggesting he had not eaten for an extended period.
The pattern of wounds indicated prolonged torture, with repeated beatings likely lasting for hours.
Eyewitnesses had earlier stated that Ajithkumar was beaten with iron rods and pipes, which aligns with the severity and distribution of the injuries.
Official Response and Action
Amid growing public pressure and criticism of the handling of the case, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court raised concerns about whether a fair investigation could be conducted by the state police. In response, the Tamil Nadu government informed the court that it had no objection to transferring the case to the CBI.
The court subsequently directed the state government to submit a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the transfer. The investigation is now officially being handed over to the CBI, which is expected to pursue dual lines of inquiry, including the custodial death and the alleged cover-up by police personnel.
In a series of administrative actions, five policemen have been booked for attempted murder and arrested. Sivaganga Superintendent of Police Ashish Rawat has been transferred and placed on the mandatory waiting list. Manamadurai DSP Shanmugasundaram has been suspended. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has officially ordered the CBI probe, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
The release of the postmortem report has triggered a new wave of outrage, with many questioning whether justice will truly be served. The CBI investigation is expected to begin shortly following the completion of legal formalities.
(With inputs from One India Tamil)
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