A second autopsy was performed on the body of the custodial torture victim Rajkumar from Idukki reveals more injuries. The procedure which was done in the Kanjirappally General Hospital on Monday exposed more injuries on Rajkumar’s stomach and thighs, which were not highlighted during the first autopsy, reports state.
K Narayana Kurup, who heads the judicial commission, which is probing the custodial death case added that apart from the re-postmortem, samples such as hair tissue have been sent for chemical, pathology and DNA tests and further action will be taken once the medical team submits their report.
For the purpose of conducting the postmortem, the body of the deceased was unearthed from the cemetery of St Sebastian’s Church in the presence of the judicial first-class magistrate.
As per the first postmortem examination, Rajkumar is said to have sustained injuries to his ribs while being administered CPR at the Peermedu Taluk hospital. The police is now investigating whether the rib injuries were caused by police torture at the Nedumkandam station or in the Peermedu sub jail.
Following the postmortem, the body of the deceased was returned to the cemetery at 7:30 pm, according to reports.
A small-time financial dealer from Kolahalamedu in Wagamon, Rajkumar was taken into custody for alleged financial fraud by the Nedumkandam police on June 12. Until June 15, when his arrest was recorded, Rajkumar was held in illegal detention by the Nedukandam police. After he was produced before the Magisterial court on June 16, he was taken to the Peermedu sub jail the next day. Since he was physically weak, so much so that he could not walk properly and had difficulty in breathing, he was admitted to hospital, but eventually died on June 21.
The state government announced Rs 16 lakh compensation for Rajkumar’s family. The government also decided to give a government job to his wife, Vijaya.