When Jayaraj and his son Bennicks custodial death in Tamil Nadu triggered a nationwide outrage in June 2020. Thousands of people across India took to their streets calling for reforms in policing practices, and hard. The two were arrested for allegedly violating Covid-19 restrictions, only to die shortly after in police custody. Their tragic deaths, along with that of Faizan in February 2020, who died following protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), underscore a troubling pattern of custodial violence in India.
Calling it a “gross violation of human right,” the High Court of India has termed Faizan’s death as custodial murder. Additionally, they’ve categorized it as a hate crime. More importantly, this ruling has highlighted the systemic issues in policing that permit these tragedies to happen. As the incidents of Jayaraj and Bennicks and Faizan remind, it is quintessential that Indian policing practices need reforms urgently.
A recent publication, “Policing and Violence in India: Colonial Legacies and Contemporary Realities,” edited by Deana Heath and Jinee Lokaneeta, investigates the intricacies of Indian policing through both political and sociological perspectives. The book weighs in at 368 pages. It journeys through the ways in which colonial legacies persist in contemporary policing and police violence today. Published by Speaking Tiger, it is available for ₹799.
The editors are especially interested in redressing the historical amnesia around the origins of policing in India. Yet, they haven’t shied away from addressing the uncomfortable truths that drive violent and abusive law enforcement behavior. The book weaves together historical events and the challenges we face in building an equitable future today. It ardently demands for holistic reforms to address systemic issues and stop future custodial deaths.
The deaths of Jayaraj, Bennicks, and Faizan serve as poignant reminders of the urgent need for change within the policing system. Advocates say that without meaningful reforms, the cycle of violence will continue and justice will never be served. The push for reform is far greater than these nine plaintiffs. This further highlights a broader societal issue about the way citizens feel they are being treated and wardens of the justice system.
The public discourse around these incidents is not just swelling in intensity, but increasingly focusing on the need for oversight and accountability of law enforcement agencies. Activists are increasingly vocal about the need to dismantle oppressive structures that perpetuate violence and discrimination.