Chennai, 4 July (H.S.) : A shocking post-mortem report has revealed that Ajith Kumar, a 28-year-old temple guard who died in police custody in Tamil Nadu's Sivaganga district, suffered 44 external injuries and severe internal damage, including brain hemorrhage and damage to vital organs. The autopsy suggests that Kumar's death was caused by prolonged and violent physical assault, contradicting the initial police account that claimed his death was due to a seizure or scuffle.

The injuries documented in the report include deep muscle-level contusions, internal organ damage, and brain hemorrhaging, with many injuries being linear, overlapping contusions, some as long as 28 cm, suggesting the use of batons, sticks, or rods. Severe head injuries, including subscalp contusions, ecchymosis of the skull, and hemorrhaging in both cerebral lobes, were also found. Additionally, petechial hemorrhages were noted in vital organs like the heart, liver, and stomach wall, typically caused by severe physical stress or suffocation-like pressure.

The case has sparked widespread outrage, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin ordering a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident. Five police personnel have been arrested in connection with the alleged custodial death. The opposition parties have demanded strict action against the accused, with former AIADMK state Minister D Jayakumar criticizing the CM's apology, saying it wouldn't bring Ajith Kumar back to life and questioning why he hadn't apologized for the 24 previous custodial deaths in the state.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary