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<p data-start="87" data-end="369"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a fresh development in the alleged custodial death case of B. Ajith Kumar, a key eyewitness has appealed for police protection, citing serious threats to his life and that of his family. The incident occurred in Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s Sivaganga district and has sparked widespread outrage.</span></p>
<p data-start="371" data-end="814"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">M. Saktheeswaran (34), a staff member at the Adaikkalam Katha Ayyanar Badrakaliamman Temple in Thiruppuvanam, claims he witnessed the brutal assault on Ajith Kumar by police officers inside the temple premises in early June. He reportedly recorded the incident on his mobile phone, capturing uniformed personnel beating the 27-year-old security guard. The video, which later went viral, became a crucial piece of evidence in the investigation.</span></p>
<p data-start="816" data-end="1103"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Following the video's circulation, five police personnel &mdash; including an inspector &mdash; were arrested and charged with murder. Despite the arrests, Saktheeswaran says he continues to receive threats, particularly from one of the suspended officers who allegedly has links to known criminals.</span></p>
<p data-start="1105" data-end="1481"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">In a formal plea to the Director General of Police (DGP), Saktheeswaran expressed deep concern for his safety, emphasizing that his family is also at risk due to his role in exposing the incident. He pointed out that the court had already acknowledged the threat and directed authorities to ensure his protection. However, he claimed that no security had been provided so far.</span></p>
<p data-start="1483" data-end="1683"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saktheeswaran also requested that police protection not be assigned from the Thiruppuvanam police station &mdash; where the accused officers were previously posted &mdash; to avoid potential bias or intimidation.</span></p>
<p data-start="1685" data-end="1941"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ajith Kumar, a contract security guard at the temple, was taken into custody on June 12 over theft allegations. He was allegedly assaulted at the temple and later at the Thiruppuvanam police station. He died the next day, reportedly from internal injuries.</span></p>
<p data-start="1943" data-end="2206" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The incident has drawn strong criticism from human rights groups, political leaders, and the public across Tamil Nadu, who are calling for justice and accountability. As of now, the DGP&rsquo;s office has not issued a response to Saktheeswaran&rsquo;s request for protection.</span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]</span></p>
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Eyewitness Seeks Protection in TN Custody Case

Witness to Tamil Nadu custodial death fears for safety, cites threats from suspended cop

Eyewitness Seeks Protection in TN Custody Case

Witness to Tamil Nadu custodial death fears for safety, cites threats from suspended cop

July 3, 2025 | 18:04 IST