In a significant legal ruling, nine police officers have been sentenced to death in India for their involvement in the custodial deaths of a father and son, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. P Jeyaraj, 58, and his son Benicks, 38, both died in police custody in Tamil Nadu after being detained for allegedly violating lockdown regulations by keeping their mobile phone shop open.
The court judge described the case as a blatant abuse of power, stating that the officers stripped and brutally assaulted the two men while in custody, indicating their actions were carried out with the intention to kill. The sentence follows the officers' previous conviction for murder last month, although they have the right to appeal.
The judge condemned the officers for their actions against unarmed suspects, emphasizing that their educational background and family circumstances should not benefit them in sentencing. Of the ten arrested officers, one passed away due to Covid-19.
This incident and the subsequent ruling have sparked protests across Tamil Nadu, with public figures, including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and prominent sports personalities, calling for justice and drawing attention to the pervasive issue of police brutality in India. Rights groups note that numerous individuals die in custody each year, often due to torture and abuse aimed at extracting confessions, necessitating urgent reforms in the policing system in accordance with international human rights standards.
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