Thu Jul 03 04:50:43 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewritten news article based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

A recent custodial death in Tamil Nadu has reignited concerns about police brutality in the state and across India. Data reveals a long history of custodial deaths, with Tamil Nadu reporting the highest number among Southern Indian states. While arrests and charges are made, convictions are extremely rare. Worryingly, the data indicates that Scheduled Castes are disproportionately affected by custodial detentions. The broader trend reveals a systemic lack of accountability for police officers involved in human rights violations across the country.

**News Article:**

**Tamil Nadu Custodial Death Sparks Outrage, Highlights Systemic Police Brutality Problem**

**Chennai, July 3, 2025** – The death of Ajith Kumar, a security guard who died in police custody in Sivaganga district last Saturday, has triggered a wave of public anger and scrutiny over police brutality in Tamil Nadu and throughout India. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court condemned the incident, stating the injuries inflicted were excessive.

Kumar’s death is not an isolated incident. Data shows a disturbing trend of custodial deaths in India. According to parliamentary records, 490 deaths occurred in judicial or police custody in Tamil Nadu between 2016-17 and 2021-22. Nationally, that number jumps to 11,656, with Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest number of fatalities.

While five constables have been arrested in connection with Kumar’s death, data reveals a critical lack of accountability. Despite numerous investigations and arrests in cases of custodial deaths and human rights violations between 2017 and 2022, not a single police officer has been convicted in Tamil Nadu, or across the nation. 74 cases of human rights violations related to illegal detention, deaths in custody, and torture/causing hurt/injury were filed against police in India between 2017 and 2022.

Adding to the concern, data suggests that members of Scheduled Castes (SCs) are disproportionately impacted by custodial practices in Tamil Nadu. In 2022, 38.5% of detenues in Tamil Nadu were SC, despite the community comprising only 20% of the state’s population. Tamil Nadu also has a high number of people in detention, with 2,129 detenues as of December 31, 2022.

The lack of convictions, coupled with the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, raises serious questions about systemic issues within the police force and the need for greater transparency and accountability to prevent future tragedies.

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