The body of a victim of a custodial death in Kerala, Rajkumar, was exhumed for a second autopsy on Monday. The second post-mortem stated that there were more injuries on the body of the victim
Thodupuzha: Though the Kerala Police stated that the initial autopsy indicated that there were injuries on the body of Rajkumar, the victim in a custodial death case, a second autopsy conducted in Kanjirappally General Hospital in Kottayam revealed that there were more injuries on the body indicating torture endured by Rajkumar.
Rajkumar's wife and son were present at St Sebastian's cemetery to help police locate the grave.
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Justice Narayana Kurup had also spoken to the family and had sought details regarding Rajkumar's death.
In the second autopsy, injuries were found on his chest, stomach, thighs along with several other bruises. In contrast, the first autopsy had stated there were signs of physical assault and 32 wound marks below his knees. Injury to his vital organs and pneumonia led to Rajkumar's death, it stated, adding that he could have contracted pneumonia from the injuries sustained.
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The commission is also investigating whether the injuries found on the body of Rajkumar during the second autopsy occurred while he was at the police station or was caused due to manhandling inside Peerumade sub-jail.
The body was returned to the burial site at 7:30pm on the same day.
The second post-mortem was ordered by Justice K Narayana Kurup. He ordered for the second post-mortem, stating he was not convinced with the findings of the first autopsy. The second autopsy was conducted 37 days after Rajkumar died.
Rajkumar who was in police custody died on June 21, allegedly due to police torture while he was in custody in Nedumkandam Police Station.
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