On this occasion, we planned something very different today – something promising, even festive. The story of how Koomapatti, a small village tucked in a rural tamil over, found a sudden glory through social media – thanks to a clear young man and his viral videos
But the story and the mood changed overnight.
Because Tamil Nadu was shaken by something much more worrying.
The young man, Ajith Kumar, died in illegal police custody – after he was brutally tortured. He wasn’t a criminal. He was not even formally charged. He was a contracting temple guard, doing his job – and now he’s gone. This is not just a tragedy. It is a test – our systems, our administration and our collective conscience.
Let’s go back where it all started.
It all started on June 27. In the famous Badrakali Temple Amman in Madapuram near Tirupuvanam in the Sivagang district. The older woman, sivakami, came to the temple with her daughter Nikhita. Since he used a wheelchair, Nikith Ajith Kumar asked for help. She even gave him the car keys and asked him to parked. Ajith didn’t know how to drive, so he asked friends to help. They parked the car, returned the keys. That was. Or it seemed.
After their visit to the temple, Nikhita noticed that 9.5 rulers of gold jewelry and Rs. From her bag was missing 2,500 in cash, which she left in the car. She said her mother brought jewelry because she was heading to the scanning center where metal ornaments are not allowed. Of course, the suspicion turned to Ajith.
Now it is normally a place where the law should take over. Written complaint. Fir. Official investigation. But in this case, none of this happened.
Only on Nikhit’s oral complaints the Police Tirupuvanam lifted Ajith and his friends to questioning. They found nothing. So they let them go.
But the next day, according to Manamadurai DSP, N Shanmugasundarama, was asked to “properly interrogate” Ajith Kumara a special police team. And since then the story has darkened.
Ajith has been picked up again. He was not transported to the police station. Instead, he was moved – from place to place – to avoid public attention. Veterinary hospital. Place near the hostel ADI DRAVIDAR. Grove. Ajith was tortured. He was defeated Lathis and pipes and was forced to confess. According to his younger brother Naven at one point desperate after relief of pain lied to Ajith. He told the police that he had hid the jewelry in Goshale in the temple.
When they brought him back to the temple to get him, Ajith told them the truth – he didn’t steal anything. He claimed to just stole them to stop the beating.
Response? He defeated him again. This time they sprinkled chili powder on the face and private parts. He eventually collapsed. He was hurried to a private hospital, but doctors, shocked the extent of his injury, refused to admit him. He was then transported to the government hospital. But until then, Ajith Kumar was dead.
The attempt to cover it all followed. The main constable filed a complaint that Ajith had an epileptic seizure while trying to escape the custody. But this explanation quickly disintegrated. Public agitation broke out. The locals, especially women, came. They heard Ajith’s shouts, tried to intervene, but were sent by the police. And then a short video – filmed secretly witnessed – showed that the police defeated Ajith inside the temple space.
After a massive outrage, the government acted – but in the stages. First, six police officers were suspended. Then five arrested. The probe was transferred from the local police to the CB-CID and finally to CBI.
The event also moved to the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, where litigation was filed in connection with the case. JUSTICE SM SU SU SUBRAMANIAN, head of divisional bench, made scary observations. He told what it is: “Police crime. The state killed its own citizen.” He said, “Even an ordinary murderer would cause so many injuries to a person.”
He pointed out obvious – that Ajith was not even charged because no fir was filed. He had no criminal record. Only a young man is doing a little job and trying to meet the goals.
The court also expressed the fear that evidence could be destroyed. It is now ordered to maintain all materials. And it is important, he asked: Who gave orders? Because no special police team would act brutally, it moved with certainty, without a green signal at the highest level.
Justice Subramanian clearly stated: “No IPS officer would go to the place and defeat the person, but if he instructed or could watch it, he is responsible.”
Meanwhile, the whisper grows louder. There are accusations that the complainant Nikhita contacted an IAS officer, who then “solved the case” under pressure – regardless of it.
Now the DSP has been suspended. Sivaganga SP was transferred and continued to wait. The main Minister MK Stalin spoke with Ajith’s mother, expressed regret, offered government work to Ajith’s brother and land land. However, the pain takes deeper than compensation.
Ajith’s family lost his son. The state has lost the trust of its people – again.
This is not the first time we have seen something like that. In 1993 it was Rasakann of Cuddalore, on which the film Jai Bhim was founded. In 2020 it was Jayaraj and his son Bennix in Sattanula.
And now -jith Kumar, in 2025. In fact, 490 deaths were reported, while the suspects were in court or police custody between 2016–17 and 2021-22 (by 31 March 2022).
There is only one pattern. Putting torture, turning into binding killing.
The High Court ordered the fourth district judge Madurai to carry out the investigation and to present July 8. A complete posthumous message is expected. And another revelation is expected. The court also called for witnesses in this case. A man who recorded a video of police brutality was looking for protection.
