Kerala - Pathanamthitta   

Remand prisoner found dead

Staff Reporter

Congress workers block traffic

PATHANAMTHITTA: A 42-year-old undertrial, Maniyan, of Vettiyar, near Mavelikara, who was in judicial custody in the Pathanamthitta sub-jail since January 11, died on Tuesday morning.

The undertrial was found in the toilet in the sub-jail complex around 8.20 a.m. The jail authorities rushed him to Pathanamthitta General Hospital where he was declared dead.

Maniyan was taken into custody from Pandalam early on January 11.

Maniyan faced warrant in three criminal cases pending before the courts in Mavelikkara and Alappuzha. His name also figured in the list of criminals at the Kurathiyad police station in Alappuzha district, the police said.

Youth Congress (YC) and Congress workers blocked the road in front of General Hospital, protesting against continuing incidents of custodial deaths.

MLAs visit spot

Local MLA K. Sivadasan Nair, Kallooppara MLA Joseph M. Puthusserry, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee leaders Benny Behenan and Mannar Abdul Latheef, District Congress Committee vice-presidents P. Mohanraj and A. Shamsuddin and YC district president A. Sureshkumar were among those who reached the spot.

The YC and Congress workers gheraoed Revenue Divisional Officer N. Mahesan at the hospital junction around 12.30 p.m. when he was on his way to prepare the inquest. Mr. Sureshkumar alleged delay in the inquest preparation by the RDO.

Mr. Sivadasan Nair and K.K. Shaju, MLA, also demanded a detailed inquiry into the incident and adequate compensation to the family of the deceased.

The RDO prepared the inquest in the presence of District and Sessions Judge M. Mytheenkunju and Chief Judicial Magistrate S. Haridas. The RDO and Superintendent of Police M.N. Jayaprakash visited the sub-jail to obtain statements from the jail authorities and other prisoners.

The relatives of the deceased demanded adequate compensation to the family. The body was taken to Kottayam Medical College Hospital for the post-mortem examination. MLAs Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, K. Sivadasan Nair and K.K. Shaju pressed the demand.

District Collector Ashok Kumar Singh and the SP visited the hospital. The Collector announced Rs.5,000 to the family of the deceased towards funeral expenses, besides Rs.1,500 sanctioned by the jail authorities.

Charges denied

Meanwhile, Mr. Singh denied charges of delay against the RDO, who is also the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, in conducting the inquest. There was no delay on the part of the RDO in reaching the spot.

The UDF held a protest march and public meeting in the town in the afternoon.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Remand prisoner found dead

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu