Should Stalin Surrender the Police Portfolio?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- BJP calls for Chief Minister Stalin to resign from police portfolio.
- Tragic death of Ajith Kumar highlights custodial violence issues.
- 23 custodial deaths reported since DMK took power in 2021.
- Demand for a special court to handle police misconduct cases.
- Supreme Court ruling reinforces accountability for police abuses.
Chennai, June 30 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad has urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to relinquish the police portfolio and to promptly file a murder case against the officers allegedly implicated in the custodial death of Ajith Kumar, a young individual hailing from Sivagangai district.
Prasad labeled Ajith Kumar’s demise at Thiruppuvanam Police Station as “profoundly troubling” and emphasized that it underscores the DMK government’s inability to address custodial violence.
“Since the DMK assumed power in 2021, 23 individuals have died in custody,” Prasad stated.
“This culture of brutality and impunity must cease. Chief Minister Stalin must be held accountable and respond to the nine inquiries we have publicly raised.”
Prasad claimed that the Tamil Nadu Police, under DMK governance, have been linked to fake encounters, fabricated charges, and routine violations of human rights.
He noted that law enforcement frequently attributed injuries in custody to “unfortunate slips in the bathroom,” a narrative that the judiciary has tacitly accepted.
The BJP spokesperson remarked that nearly 90 percent of human rights abuses in the state arise from police misconduct, suggesting that the government’s inaction has emboldened officers to perpetrate atrocities while offering leniency to corporate and political interests.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s recent verdict regarding Section 197 of the CrPC, Prasad called for the establishment of a special court to adjudicate cases against police personnel accused of misconduct.
“The Supreme Court has clarified that police who misuse their power cannot evade accountability behind government approval. Tamil Nadu must now act decisively to affirm its respect for the rule of law,” he stated.
Prasad demanded the immediate suspension of the Sivagangai District Superintendent of Police, a judicial inquiry into all custodial deaths under the DMK government, and prompt action to prosecute those accountable for Ajith Kumar’s death.
“The citizens of Tamil Nadu deserve a government that safeguards their rights and dignity, not one that shields killers in uniform. Stalin must demonstrate his commitment to human rights by relinquishing the police portfolio and ensuring accountability,” he concluded.