Nine policemen sentenced to death in India over Covid custody killings

India’s judicial system has handed down death sentences to nine police officers for the deaths of a father and son during their detention in Tamil Nadu in 2020. P Jeyaraj, 58, and his son Benicks, 38, were arrested for allegedly violating lockdown rules by operating their mobile phone shop. The pair died in custody days later, prompting outrage over the conditions of their imprisonment.

The sentencing judge described the incident as a severe abuse of power, stating that the men were stripped and subjected to brutal assaults in front of each other. “They did this with the intention of killing,” the judge emphasized during the ruling. The officers, who were convicted of murder last month, are now set to challenge their sentences through legal appeals.

“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 added, highlighting the systemic nature of the misconduct.

A total of ten officers were implicated in the incident, though one of the accused passed away from COVID-19 in 2020. The case sparked widespread protests in Tamil Nadu, with opposition lawmakers leading demonstrations against the police actions. Prominent figures like Rahul Gandhi and Shikhar Dhawan amplified calls for justice on social media platforms.

The tragedy has reignited debates about police brutality in India, drawing attention to the frequency of custodial deaths. Human rights organizations note that hundreds of individuals die in Indian custody each year, often due to torture and mistreatment used to extract confessions. This year, UN experts urged the government to adopt sweeping reforms to modernize policing in accordance with international human rights standards.