Tribal man dies in forest dept custody in Tamil Nadu; family alleges torture, officials claim suicide

Tiruppur: A 58-year-old farmer, Marimuthu, from Melkurumalai near Udumalaipet, died under mysterious circumstances while in the custody of forest officials, leading to allegations of custodial torture and a cover-up. The incident has sparked outrage, with the victim’s family demanding a thorough investigation.

Marimuthu, who was recently acquitted in a ganja smuggling case, was returning to Munnar, Kerala, after signing court documents in Udumalai when forest officials stopped him at the Chinnaru check post. They allegedly found a tiger tooth in his possession—a violation under the Wildlife Protection Act—and took him into custody for questioning.

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According to the forest department, Marimuthu was held for interrogation at their Udumalaipet office. On the night of July 29, officials claimed he went to the restroom and did not return for a long time. When they checked, they allegedly found he had hanged himself using his vest.

However, Marimuthu’s family has vehemently denied this version, accusing officials of torturing him overnight and causing his death. They allege that the suicide story was fabricated to hide custodial violence.

Marimuthu’s daughter, Sindhu, filed a formal complaint with the Udumalai police, demanding action against those responsible. The Udumalai DSP, Namachivayam, along with a judicial magistrate, inspected the scene. The room where Marimuthu died was sealed, and his body was sent for autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Marimuthu had faced multiple cases, including ganja smuggling, in recent years. However, due to lack of evidence, he was acquitted by the court on July 29, just before this incident. His family insists he was targeted despite his clean legal record after the acquittal.

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This incident follows the custodial death of Ajith Kumar in Sivaganga, which had triggered widespread anger in Tamil Nadu. Activists and opposition leaders are likely to seize upon this case, demanding an independent probe into whether Marimuthu was a victim of custodial violence.