NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, JUNE 30
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday issued a stern warning that his government would take tough action in cases of custodial deaths, trafficking and sale of narcotics and illicit liquor, safety of women, reiterating the state’s commitment to crime prevention and justice.
In a post on ‘X’, Stalin emphasised, “The government’s action against dereliction of duty will be very stringent in matters involving drugs, illicit liquor, women’s safety, and lockup deaths. Anyone who fails in their duty will face extremely severe action from the government.”
குற்றங்கள் நடக்காமல் தடுக்கப்பட வேண்டும்!
மீறி நடந்தால் அதில் ஈடுபட்டவர் ரவுடியானாலும், அரசியல் பின்புலம் கொண்டவரானாலும், காவலரே ஆனாலும் அதற்கான தண்டனையை விரைவில் பெற்றுத் தந்து நீதி நிலைநாட்டப்படும் ஆட்சியாகத்தான் #DravidianModel அரசு திகழ்ந்து வருகிறது.
"போதைப் பொருள் -… pic.twitter.com/AeJhoSxd5N
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 30, 2025
The chief minister’s remarks came amid widespread outrage over the alleged custodial death of 28-year-old Ajith Kumar, a temple security guard in Sivaganga district. Kumar reportedly died while in police custody at the Tirubuvanam police station on June 28 during questioning over a theft involving missing gold and cash from a devotee’s car, news agency PTI reported.
Ajith Kumar, a temporary guard according to CPI(M), was reportedly taken to the station for questioning as part of an investigation into missing valuables from a devotee’s car. After his death, six police personnel were suspended.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami called for a thorough investigation, demanding a committee led by the district judge to uncover the truth. He declared in a statement, “In order to facilitate a comprehensive investigation, to bring out the whole truth, a committee headed by the district judge should be set up, and action must be taken against those responsible. Also, due compensation must be extended to the kin of the deceased.”
Palaniswami further criticised Stalin, accusing him of failing to manage the police force, which is directly under his control, and described him as a “doll chief minister.”
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), an ally of the ruling DMK, condemned the incident and demanded stringent legal action. The party insisted, “A murder case must be registered, and the policemen who perpetrated the crime must be brought to book,” and also called for a government job for a family member of the deceased along with compensation.
Tamil Nadu BJP alleged that the DMK administration had turned the state into the “motherland of lockup deaths,” claiming that 24 custodial deaths had occurred during the current regime.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary TTV Dhinakaran attacked Stalin, saying, “Now, what answer is he going to give for police violence under his rule against the common people,” and accused him of shedding “fake tears” over custodial deaths after watching films on the issue.
PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss pointed out there had been 28 custodial deaths in the past four years under the DMK government, which he described as an extreme violation of human rights. Drawing a parallel to the Sathankulam custodial deaths under the AIADMK regime, he said, “If the chief minister has a conscience, he should quit his post.”
