91% of TN Cops Think 'Torture' Sometimes Necessary: Report

Status of Policing in India Report 2025 shows that state police have higher propensity to resort to extra-judicial methods than most surveyed states

- GAUTHAM SELVARAJAN @ Chennai

NINETY-ONE per cent of the police personnel in Tamil Nadu are likely to "highly or moderately" support the view that "custodial torture is sometimes necessary and acceptable to gain information" during investigation, according to the Status of Policing in India Report (SPIR) 2025, compiled based on detailed interviews with 8,276 cops of different ranks from 16 states and Delhi.

In the wake of the recent alleged custodial killing of B Ajithkumar (27) in Sivaganga district, the report, brought out by Lokniti - Centre for the Study of Developing Societies in collaboration with Common Cause on March 31, showed that TN police have a higher propensity to resort to extra-judicial methods than most other states.

The 91% of cops in TN who "highly (56%) or moderately (35%)" support custodial torture sometimes were the highest, followed by Rajasthan (90%). The remaining nine per cent in TN expressed "low or very low" support.

However, in terms of those who "highly" supported this view, TN ranked second (56%) after Gujarat (63%).