The article examines how selective public outrage over custodial deaths often fails to hold the state accountable, reinforcing systemic impunity.It contrasts two cases: the 2020 deaths of Jeyaraj and Bennicks in Tamil Nadu, where public anger led to judicial action, and the 2019 Hyderabad killings of four accused in a rape-murder case, celebrated by crowds as justice.

The analysis highlights how public perception of criminality shapes reactions—innocent victims are mourned, while accused criminals face mob violence.The state leverages such outrage to legitimize its power, avoiding reforms.

The piece critiques the lack of systemic accountability, noting how media narratives and social assumptions about justice perpetuate cycles of violence and impunity.It underscores the need for organized political action rather than transient public anger to address custodial deaths and state overreach.