Protests Erupt in Nagercoil After Differently-Abled Man Dies in Judicial Custody

A 34-year-old differently-abled man, Sabarivarman, has died in prison in Tamil Nadu's Kanniyakumari district after being arrested for allegedly selling tobacco products. The death has triggered intense protests and a road blockade by his family in the Nagercoil area, who allege that he died due to police brutality.

Following his death in judicial custody, Sabarivarman's relatives refused to accept his body and staged a road blockade to demand a thorough investigation. The family claimed that his body bore visible injury marks, alleging that he was beaten to death while in custody.

"We want justice. The injuries on his body clearly show he was assaulted by the police. We will not take the body until those responsible are held accountable," a relative of the deceased said during the protest.

Kanniyakumari District Superintendent of Police Dr. R. Stalin stated that an official investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of death. He told reporters that further details would be provided once the post-mortem examination is completed.

The incident has sparked political outrage. Opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin expressed shock and demanded accountability, highlighting that Sabarivarman was a differently-abled individual who was reportedly in good health at the time of his arrest. He rejected the police's explanation that the death was due to "ill health," pointing instead to the family's allegations of assault.

Udhayanidhi Stalin also criticized what he described as a disparity in law enforcement, noting that while Sabarivarman died in custody, a TVK executive arrested for the same offense in Erode was released on personal bail the same day. He demanded that the involved police personnel be brought to justice.

DMK leader I Paranthamen also criticized the government over the incident, accusing it of attempting to divert attention and failing to act against those responsible. He warned that the DMK would approach the court to seek a CBI probe if action is not taken against the concerned officials.