On 23 August, 43-year-old Martin from Sathankulam in Thoothukudi district, was out shopping for groceries when he received a worrying phone call from his wife. It was close to 7 pm and in an urgent whisper she said the police were waiting for him at their front door. Martin, a driver by profession, immediately rushed back, desperate to know why the men in khaki had arrived at his doorstep.
But instead of answers, what awaited him was brutal assault, abuse and hospitalisation.
"As soon as I got back, the policemen began to hit me, pushed me into a waiting vehicle and sped off. I thought I would get some answers once we reached the station. Instead, we drove past the Sathankulam station and they took me to the old police quarters behind the local government hospital," says Martin. "Four policemen then assaulted me through the night, kicking and hitting me till I nearly collapsed," he alleges.