Even as the clamour surrounding the death of a remand prisoner in Ernakulam grows, the prison authorities are likely to be given a clean chit.
A report submitted by Sam Thankkayyan, DIG of Prisons, Central Zone, absolves the authorities of any wrongdoing and supports their claim that they had lent timely medical assistance.
TH Shafeeq, 35, who had a seizure and collapsed at the Borstal school at Thrikkakara on January 12, died the day after at Kottayam Medical College Hospital.
A Kanjirapally native, Shafeeq was arrested by the Udayamperror police and kept at the school awaiting his COVID test results before being shifted to the prison.
Allegations of custodial torture
After his death, his family had alleged custodial torture. Following this, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said the probe into his death would be handed over to the Crime Branch.
The Chief Minister also added that the government would consider a CBI probe if it was a case of custody death.
As per the statements of the doctor who conducted the autopsy, Shafeeq had suffered an injury on the back of his head.
It's likely the injury was sustained after falling down on to a hard surface or after being hit on the head with something hard.
Bleeding in the brain due to this injury is said to be the cause of death.
However, his relatives allege that there were injuries on Shafeeq's face and head and that this was proof of assault.
They are insisting on a CBI probe.
