TN Dalit youth dies in judicial custody, postmortem finds 7 deep bruises on his body

The postmortem report of a Dalit youth who allegedly died due to custodial torture in Tamil Nadu’s Palayamkottai Central Prison revealed that the victim has seven deep bruises on his body.

By Pramod Madhav

A 26-year-old Dalit man who was arrested last week by Puliyangudi police in Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi district died in judicial custody. After his family alleged custodial torture, the autopsy report has revealed that the deceased had seven deep bruises on his body.

Thangasamy was arrested with 60-year-old Muppulimadathi on Sunday (June 11) for reportedly selling liquor through a petty shop illegally. The police registered cases under section 294(b), 353, 506(2) of the IPC and 4(1)(I), 4(1)(a) and 14A of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition Act.

He died on Wednesday (June 14). His postmortem report, accessed by India Today, reveals that the victim had seven deep bruises on his body.

The postmortem reports indicated that while the internal organs of the victim remained intact, there were seven irregular reddish brown abrasions seen on top of the right shoulder, inner part of the right little finger, front of right lower knee, lower back midline, over left hip and front portion of the left upper leg.

Further, the report mentioned that black scabs were observed on the inner side of the right ankle, back of the big left toe and the inside portion of the left mid leg, all ante-mortem in nature sustained a week earlier.

While the report also stated that the injuries are not sufficient to cause death in the ordinary course of nature, the immediate cause of death was reserved pending chemical analysis of viscera and histopathological examination of tissues.

Thanagasamy’s family has refused to accept the body and have alleged that the police have been trying to tamper with evidence.

POLICE’S VERSION

It is learnt that the DIG prisons ordered an inquiry into the matter. According to the sources, Thangasamy was brought to the Palayamkottai Central Prison late in the evening of June 12. The prison authorities had recorded a few injury marks which were on his body and also noted that he was shivering and reportedly smelling of alcohol at the time.

“As his health was not good, he was kept in the prison hospital on June 13 and 14 for treatment and prison hospital authorities have closely monitored his condition. He was shifted to a block next to the prison hospital once his health improved. However, he later collapsed and was taken to the government hospital,” the prison officials told India Today.

Courtesy : India Today

Note: This news piece was originally published in indiatoday.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights