Vijay Govt faces intense heat over custodial death of disabled prisoner in Nagercoil | VIDEO

Nagercoil (Tamil Nadu): The death of an undertrial prisoner, S Sabari Varman, at the sub-jail here has ignited severe backlash against the Tamil Nadu government. Opposition parties have heavily criticised the state's handling of the matter, while the victim's family staged an overnight protest demanding a secondary autopsy and an independent investigation.
 

Sabari Varman, a 35-year-old disabled shopkeeper from Ethankadu in Nagercoil, died in judicial custody on July 13. Following a post-mortem report that revealed 19 separate injuries across the victim's body, including his elbows, knees, forearms and legs, the police arrested three prison staff members, including a chief warden, and placed them under suspension.

A senior police official confirmed that a case has also been registered against 8 co-inmates in connection with the shopkeeper's death. Meanwhile, the arrests of the prison staff were executed based on CCTV footage and eyewitness testimonies. According to the official, the co-inmates initially assaulted Sabari Varman in his cell at around midnight on July 13 because he was making loud noises. Subsequently, the prison staff intervened and allegedly beat the victim.

Refusing to accept his body, the family members held an overnight demonstration outside the Government Medical College Hospital at Asaripallam, pressing for a fresh post-mortem and an independent probe.

The incident has triggered widespread political condemnation. DMK MP Kanimozhi strongly faulted the police and the administration for their handling of the crisis. She visited the grieving family members to offer her condolences on Wednesday night.

Taking strong exception to alleged "police brutality in the Nagercoil sub-jail”, Kanimozhi said, "Even after three days of this custodial death, there has been no explanation or statement from Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay."

She later noted in a post on 'X', "No minister has visited the victim's family in person. This government has not even come forward to provide relief to the affected family. Overall, as always, the TVK government is just watching the issue without taking responsibility."
 

Terming it "a horrific incident", BJP State Chief Nainar Nagenthran asserted that custodial deaths which occurred during the previous DMK regime appeared to be continuing under the current administration. Speaking to journalists, he demanded that the Chief Minister take immediate steps to restore law and order across the state.

CPM legislator R Chellaswamy stated that the victim's relatives had expressed dissatisfaction with the initial post-mortem findings and were seeking a second autopsy. Meanwhile, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss called for a probe by the CBI.According to police records, Varman had been arrested by the Thenthamaraikulam police on 9 July for allegedly selling banned gutka, with authorities confiscating around 200 grams of prohibited tobacco products from his shop.

PTI