Tamil Nadu: Most victims were poor and marginalised

Tamil Nadu: Most victims were poor and marginalised

An analysis of custodial deaths in Tamil Nadu in the past four years show the majority of victims belong to Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribes and from poor economic backgrounds. Many were arrested for petty crimes.

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caste of 12 victims could not be verified.

“Half of the custodial deaths are from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes. Isn't it a shame for the ‘social justice government’? Is this the way Dalits are to be treated?” asked Henri Tiphagne, executive director of People’s Watch. 

“In most of the cases legal interventions were initiated but there is no fast track process in the lower courts or High Court regarding custodial deaths. Whenever we ask for CCTV footage, the state public prosecutor states that it was deleted within 15 days, which is illegal. Shouldn’t the court have immediately pulled up the police for that? The least that the High Court can do is ask the legal authorities to investigate and file a report and ensure that the District Level Oversight Committee (DLOC) and State Level Oversight Committee (SLOC) to oversee CCTVs in police stations are active,” Henri said.

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