🧭 Introduction: A Nation in Custody
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Start with a hard-hitting stat: India reported over 2,000 custodial deaths in the past decade (NCRB).
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Highlight how Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra consistently feature among the top states in these reports.
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Pose the central question: Why are these states repeatedly at the top of custodial violence statistics?
📊 Section 1: What the Data Says
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Reference NCRB’s annual “Crime in India” reports:
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TN, UP, and MH rank high in both custodial deaths and human rights violation cases against police.
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Mention the NHRC’s figures, which often show even higher numbers than NCRB due to better reporting.
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Note gaps: Many custodial deaths go unreported or are recorded as suicides or natural causes.
📍 Section 2: Tamil Nadu – A Pattern of Brutality
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Notable cases:
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Jeyaraj and Bennix (2020) – father-son duo killed in police custody in Thoothukudi.
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Raja Manickam case (2023) – Dalit youth allegedly tortured to death.
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Analysis:
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High number of deaths in judicial custody too.
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Police known for use of third-degree methods.
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State has a history of electoral politicization of the police force.
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Civil society response: Widespread protests, involvement of Madras HC.
📍 Section 3: Uttar Pradesh – The Encounter State
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Famous cases:
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Altaf (2021) – Muslim youth found hanging in police lockup; police claimed suicide.
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Numerous encounter killings under the guise of “self-defense”.
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Patterns:
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Police accused of targeting minorities and Dalits.
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Frequent refusal to file FIRs against policemen.
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Political cover often protects erring officers.
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Judiciary’s role: Allahabad HC has often pulled up the police, but few convictions.
📍 Section 4: Maharashtra – Silent but Significant
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Notable cases:
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Piyush Sinha case (Nagpur, 2021)
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Deaths in custody from tribal and rural areas rarely reported.
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Patterns:
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High custodial deaths in judicial lockups, especially in urban slums and rural police stations.
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Mumbai police under scrutiny for misuse of power, extortion, etc.
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Lower media visibility compared to TN/UP but equally severe.
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🔍 Section 5: Common Factors Across States
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Lack of accountability: Internal inquiries rarely punish guilty officers.
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Political interference: Police used as tools by ruling governments.
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Judicial delays: Cases drag on for years with no closure.
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Intimidation of victims’ families.
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Poor implementation of Supreme Court guidelines (e.g., D.K. Basu, CCTV orders).
🧱 Section 6: State-Specific Challenges
| State | Key Challenges |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Frequent torture allegations, custodial abuse in rural areas, caste dynamics |
| Uttar Pradesh | Use of “encounters”, communal targeting, police impunity |
| Maharashtra | Urban vs rural abuse gap, fewer convictions, low media focus |
📢 Section 7: Voices and Resistance
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Families of victims, civil society groups like PUCL, HRLN, and Dalit/Adivasi groups.
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Public protests in Tamil Nadu; digital activism in UP.
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Calls for independent police complaints authorities.
🧠 Conclusion: Are We Listening?
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These states are not the only ones with custodial violence, but they represent the systemic crisis in India’s criminal justice system.
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Real reform demands:
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Independent oversight.
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Implementation of Supreme Court guidelines.
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Police reform bills not just on paper.
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Public and media pressure to hold states accountable.
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📌 Optional Add-ons:
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Infographic: Top 5 states by custodial deaths (latest NCRB data).
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Map of India with hotspots.
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Timeline of key incidents in TN, UP, MH.