A Tamil Nadu native died, reportedly in police custody, at the Thrikkakara police station early on Saturday (January 24, 2026). The deceased is Baburaj, 50, a native of Avalloor in Dindigul district of Tamil Nadu.
He was reportedly taken into preventive custody around 10:45 p.m. on Friday (January 23, 2026) after residents alerted the police about finding him at Chembumukku in Vazhakkala under suspicious circumstances.
The police registered a case under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which allows arrest without a warrant to prevent the commission of cognisable offences, following a medical check-up at the Thrikkakara Municipal Cooperative Hospital.
After he was brought to the station, around 2:50 a.m., Baburaj reportedly showed symptoms of epilepsy and was rushed back to the hospital, where he was declared dead. A case has been registered under Section 194 (unnatural death) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and an investigation is under way.
“Baburaj had been at Kakkanad for over 15 years, doing odd jobs, and had no criminal background. His son and a relative came to the police station upon being intimated about his death. We have shown the CCTV visuals from the police station from the time he was brought,” Vijayan T.B., Assistant Commissioner of Police, Thrikkakara, said. He added that a post-mortem examination would be conducted on Sunday (January 25, 2026).
Published – January 24, 2026 08:48 pm IST
