Thodupuzha: Several grievous injuries, which didn't come to light earlier, were found on the body of a 49-year-old man during the second autopsy carried out after exhuming his body on Monday. Another round of postmortem was ordered on the orders of Justice K Narayana Kurup Commission which is probing the death of Raj Kumar, a small-time financial agent on June 21, days after the suspected torture at the Nedumkandam police station in Kerala's Idukki district.
Kumar, a native of Kolahalamedu near Vagamon in Kottayam district, was taken into custody in connection with a financial fraud case. He died while in remand at the Peermade sub-jail on June 21 and the initial postmortem was held at the Kottayam Medical College Hospital the next day.
Injuries, most of them are bruises, were found on his chest, stomach, and thighs during the latest autopsy.
More crucial evidence were received when the second postmortem was held at the General Hospital at Kanjirappally on Monday. The body was exhumed on the 37th day after his death and the autopsy re-conducted on Monday.
The preliminary finding of the second autopsy report also points at third-degree methods being used on Kumar. The body had suffered assaults that could even damage internal organs such as the kidney, it is pointed out.
The findings of the police surgeons at the Kanjirappally hospital completely reject the points mentioned in the first postmortem report. The autopsy procedures began at 4.15 pm on Monday and went on for more than 3 hours.
Though it was said that the body would be exhumed by 10 am, the procedures got delayed.
The high number of injuries point at custodial death, said Justice K Narayana Kurup, who is probing the case.
A detailed report on the second autopsy would be available within two days, the Justice added.
Commission rejects first report
A total of 22 injuries were listed in the first postmortem report held at the Kottayam Medical College Hospital. It had also stated that Kumar had died due to pneumonia. However, Justice Kurup said that he had doubts over this observation and would comment on this later on.
That autopsy report was under a cloud as it did not mention when the injuries were inflicted.
The judicial commission ordered for a second dissection owing to unconvincing findings in the first procedure.
Family at site
Kumar's wife and son were also summoned to the St Sebastian’s Church at Vagamon to locate the grave for the police. They had first reached the church around 8 am and returned to their home at Kolahalamedu. They came to the church again after 10 am on the orders of the police.
Kumar's wife Vijaya was sobbing as she reached the cemetery. Her younger son Joshy held on to her hand as his mother cried silently.
Justice Narayana Kurup spoke to them and sought details.
The first-accused seeks bail
Kochi: The Kerala High Court has sought an explanation from the state government over a bail plea submitted by the first accused in Kumar's custodial death case.
In his petition to the court, K A Sabu, the former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of the Nedumkandam police station, said that the he had only arrested Kumar on the orders of the Kattappana DySP and Idukki SP.
I merely followed the orders of my seniors as an obedient officer, Sabu stated.
The petitioner said that the most of the probe has been completed and that he had been in custody since July 3. He contended that there was no need for him to remain in custody further.
Meanwhile, another bench of the HC asked the government to submit details of the re-autopsy report. The bench is considering a plea filed by Kumar's wife Vijaya and children, seeking a CBI probe into the custodial death. They also sought Rs 1 crore as compensation.
The government had earlier informed that the Kottayam Crime Branch SP was leading the probe, under the supervision of the Ernakulam range IG. The government also said that all those linked to Kumar's death would be brought before the law.
Crime Branch to probe suicide of youth
The High Court has also ordered that a team led by the Ernakulam Crime Branch SP would probe the suicide of a youth, who was taken into custody by the police and then let off.
Kottayam native Rajesh, who approached the Melukavu police station to file a complaint on a vehicle deal, was allegedly assaulted and named as an accused in a chain robbery case. Rajesh, who was distressed after the ordeal, then took the extreme step, it is said.
His father Raju then moved the High Court, seeking a Crime Branch report to reveal the truth.
Justice Mary Joseph ordered for the CB probe while considering Raju's petition. The court also ordered for an unbiased probe into the allegations and submit the final report at the earliest.
