A video of B. Ajith Kumar (27), a temporary temple security guard being beaten allegedly by a group of policemen dressed in plain clothes prior to his death in Sivaganga district three days ago, has emerged.

The 38-second video, shot on a mobile phone, shows a policeman thrashing Ajith Kumar with a long plastic pipe-like object in the presence of two other policemen in plain clothes despite his wails, at a secluded location near Bathirakaliamman temple at Madapuram village in Sivaganga district.

Hearing a case related to the death, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court summoned one Shakthieeswaran, who shot a video of the police torturing Ajith Kumar at the temple cattle shed, to be present before the court at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.

Three days ago, Ajith Kumar who worked as a temporary security personnel at Batharakaliamman temple at Madapuram near Thirupuvanam died during police interrogation due to alleged custodial torture on June 28.

He was being interrogated for an alleged theft of about 10 sovereign gold ornaments from a devotee’s car that he helped park at the temple premises on Friday (June 27). The family members who gathered outside the Thirupuvanam police station after his death on Saturday alleged custodial death

Following backlash, six policemen attached to the station were suspended on Sunday. On Monday, five policemen were arrested on charges of murder after initial post-mortem report and police inquest suggested custodial torture as the body of the victim bore 30 injuries.

On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Director-General of Police (DGP) ordered the transfer of probe to CB-CID and also placed Sivaganga Superintendent of Police Ashish Rawat on compulsory wait.