According to a report released by the Union Home Ministry based on data from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has recorded 170 custodial deaths in just the first 74 days of 2026 (from January 1 to March 15). This highlights a serious concern about safety and accountability within police custody across the country. The report also provides past data, showing 140 deaths in 2024–25, 157 in 2023–24, 163 in 2022–23, and 176 in 2021–22, indicating that custodial deaths remain a persistent issue over the years. Custodial deaths refer to deaths that occur while a person is under police or judicial custody, often raising questions about human rights violations, police procedures, and transparency. The NHRC has repeatedly stressed the need for strict monitoring, installation of CCTV cameras in police stations, and timely reporting of such incidents. Experts believe that better training for police personnel, faster judicial processes, and stronger accountability measures are necessary to reduce such cases. The rising numbers in early 2026 have once again sparked debate on police reforms and the importance of protecting citizens’ rights in custody.
