Ramanathpuram
A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the death of M. Manikandan, 28, the suspected accused, wanted in connection with house burglary case, who collapsed on Friday while being chased by a police team at Theruruveli under Mudukulathur police limit.
Mudukulathur Judicial Magistrate G. Ramasankaran commenced the inquiry after the police registered an First Information Report under section 176 (1-A) (person dying while in the custody of police) of Cr PC, on receipt of a complaint from a Sub-Inspector of Police and referred the same to the Chief Judicial Magistrate M. Sivaprakasam.
On being nominated, the JM began the inquiry on Friday itself while conducting an inquest for the postmortem. He enquired with the family members of the deceased and the nurse of Theruruveli Primary Health Centre (PHC) who examined the accused before he was taken to the Paramakudi Government Hospital.
After finding the pulse rate and respiratory ratio of the accused low, the nurse referred him to the Paramakudi Government Hospital and he died while being taken to the hospital, police said.
On the order of the JM, Natarajan, Head of the department, Forensic Sciences department, Government Sivaganga Medical College Hospital, and his colleague, Selvakumar conducted the postmortem in the early hours of Saturday, after which the body was handed over to the family members.
The family members accepted the body and conducted the funeral on Saturday, police said.
The postmortem was conducted around 2 a.m. as there was delay on the part of District Revenue Officer S. Muthumari, who is holding charge as Collector in giving permission for conducting the postmortem after 6 p.m., police said.
She issued the order only after police produced a copy of the order issued by Thoothukudi Collector, as a reference, for conducting the postmortem after 6 p.m. in the recent police firing incident.
Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police Omprakash Meena has appointed District Crime Branch DSP P. Ravindra Prakash to investigate the case.
“The DSP will act as the investigation officer while the Judicial Magistrate will conduct the inquiry,” the SP said. He has also sent a report to the National Human Rights Commission, the SP added.