Disabled Man Dies in Nagercoil Jail

Shabarivarman, a differently-abled man from Nagercoil, was arrested by police on allegations of illegally selling gutka and pan masala products. Officials said two previous cases were also registered against him in connection with similar offences. A court remanded him to judicial custody on July 9, but he died inside the jail early Monday morning. His family alleged that there were injury marks on his body, and officials stated that the post-mortem examination found 19 injuries.

During the investigation, authorities examined jail CCTV footage and reportedly found that three prison warders and some inmates had allegedly assaulted Shabarivarman. Cases were registered against the concerned jail staff, and they were arrested. The incident has triggered political reactions in Tamil Nadu, with DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin questioning how a person who was healthy at the time of arrest died with injuries in custody and demanding accountability from the government.