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Thirty-eight-year-old Ashraf, who was lynched by a mob in Mangaluru on April 27 during a cricket tournament, died due to the “cumulative effect” of more than 35 external injuries inflicted all over his body by blunt objects, the post-mortem report has said.
Ashraf was attacked, allegedly for his Muslim identity, by a mob during a cricket tournament in Kudupu. His body was found on the mud road that connects the Bhattra Kallurti daivasthana to the playground where the tournament was being held.
The police initially only registered a case of unnatural death, claiming that he may have fallen down in an inebriated condition. They issued a lookout notice as they did not know his identity. However, within a few hours of his death, word about the lynching had spread, and local activists demanded action from the police and insisted that they see the body. After that the police registered a case of lynching under Section _ of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Forensic doctors, who carried out the post mortem on April 28, gave the final opinion on the cause of death on July 15.
Based on the post mortem findings, histopathological examination report, and forensic reports, the doctors said, “We are of the opinion that the cause of death is due to cumulative effect of internal hemorrhage due to multiple contusions all over the body and head injury.” A contributory cause of death was acute kidney injury sustained due to blunt force impact, the post mortem report said.
Injuries all over the body
The post-mortem report listed more than 35 injuries all over Ashraf’s body. They include abrasions (where the skin was scraped), contusions (bruises on the surface of the skin or deeper tissues by a direct blow), lacerations, and tramline contusions (bruises caused by a cylindrical object such as a stick).
“All injuries are fresh and antemortem in nature, sustained due to blunt force impact,” the report noted.
The post mortem report listed injuries such as scrapes and bruises on Ashraf’s back, chest, and abdomen, including a cluster of abrasions ranging between “5cm x 3cm to 1cm x 1cm” seen over an area over the left upper back.
It noted several injuries on the face and head, including swelling, abrasions, and bruises around his eyes, a swelling of the right parietal area of the head, and a cut below his right eye.
Ashraf also had several bruises on his right arm, right shoulder, left arm, and an abrasion on his left elbow.
The post-mortem also found tramline contusions on his buttocks and right thigh, and a tramline abrasion on his left thigh.
On April 30, Ashraf’s brothers Abdul Jabbar and Abdul Hameed had seen his body in the mortuary. A fact-finding report had noted that they were very disturbed when they saw the body.
“Heinous stab wounds were on the victim’s body, so intense that it was difficult for them to even look. There were ‘crack’ (use of a stick) and slash marks on the body, indicating that swords had been used,” the fact-finding report said.
Assaulted with sticks?
The police also sent five sticks recovered from the scene of the crime to the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology at Wenlock District Hospital.
These sticks ranged between 36 cm and 102 cm in length, between 7.5cm and 12cm in circumference, and between 158 gm and 340 gm in weight, the forensic report said.
Dr Rashmi KS, Forensic Medicine Specialist, submitted a report on July 16, with the final opinion saying, “The pattern of injuries described in the post mortem report could be caused by the articles like the one examined.”