In brief
In a significant legal outcome, nine police officers in Tamil Nadu, India, have been sentenced to death for the deaths of P Jeyaraj and his son Benicks, who died in custody after being accused of violating lockdown rules. The case has reignited discussions on police brutality and the need for reforms in India's law enforcement practices.
Nine police officers have been sentenced to death in India over the deaths in custody of a father and son in 2020.
P Jeyaraj, 58, and his son Benicks, 38, both died in jail in the southern state of Tamil Nadu - days after they were detained for allegedly keeping their mobile phone shop open in breach of lockdown rules during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two men were stripped and ruthlessly assaulted in front of each other, as described by the sentencing judge, who characterized the case as a clear abuse of authority.
They did this with the intention of killing, he stated.
The officers, previously found guilty of murder, have the right to appeal against their sentences.
They attacked unarmed people. They should not be forgiven. They should not be given lesser sentences based on their age or family background. They are all educated, the judge articulated during the sentencing.
Originally, ten police officers were charged regarding the brutal deaths of the father and son, but one of the accused passed away from Covid in 2020.
The case incited protests across Tamil Nadu, with opposition lawmakers joining public calls for justice.
Prominent figures including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan voiced their demands for accountability on social media.
This incident has brought renewed focus on police brutality in India, with rights organizations indicating that hundreds die annually while in custody. Reports of torture and abuse to obtain confessions have become alarming traits within police practices.
This year, several UN experts urged India to implement significant police reforms aligning with international human rights standards.
