Family Alleges Custodial Torture After Man Dies in Thoothukudi Hospital
Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu: A 24-year-old man, Arunachalam, died at the Thoothukudi Government Medical College Hospital (TKGMCH) in the early hours of Thursday, July 23, 2026, days after his arrest by the Thoothukudi South police on Friday, July 17.
Arunachalam, a resident of Amutha Nagar in Thoothukudi, was described by police as a habitual offender with previous arrests related to contraband possession. During a recent raid, police arrested him for the illegal sale of liquor bottles and seized approximately 120 bottles. He was released on station bail on the evening of July 17 and later admitted to TKGMCH by his family members. Hospital sources confirmed he was undergoing treatment in the neurosurgery ward.
Following his death, family members staged a protest outside TKGMCH, alleging that Arunachalam had sustained head injuries due to custodial torture by the police. They demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to his death. In contrast, police sources claimed that Arunachalam had a history of seizures and had fallen on his own at the police station.
A case has been registered based on the complaint filed by the family. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death. Further investigation is underway. Authorities have urged the public to await the post-mortem report and the findings of the investigation before drawing conclusions.
