Nine Indian Police Officers Sentenced to Death for Custodial Killings

Nine Indian police officers have been sentenced to death following their conviction for the murder of P Jeyaraj, 58, and his son Benicks, 38. The men died in custody in Tamil Nadu in 2020, days after being detained for allegedly breaching Covid-19 lockdown rules by keeping their mobile phone shop open.

The sentencing judge on Monday described the incident as a clear abuse of authority, stating the officers acted "with the intention of killing." He noted the victims were stripped and brutally assaulted in front of each other. The officers, found guilty of murder last month, retain the right to appeal their sentences.

The judge emphasised the severity of the crime, stating, "They attacked unarmed people. They should not be forgiven." He dismissed pleas for leniency based on age or family background, highlighting the officers' education.

In total, ten officers were arrested in connection with the deaths, though one died of Covid-19 in 2020. The case sparked widespread protests in Tamil Nadu and brought renewed attention to the persistent issue of police brutality in India. Human rights organisations consistently report numerous custodial deaths annually, often linked to torture used to extract confessions. Earlier this year, United Nations experts urged India to implement significant policing reforms to align with international human rights standards.