Crime branch team to probe Parassala youth’s death

Thiruvananthapuram: A special investigation team (crime branch) has been formed to probe the death of Sharon Raj (23) of Parassala, rural superintendent of police D Shilpa said while addressing a press conference here on Saturday evening.
Raj died allegedly after consuming an ayurveda medicine and flavoured mango fruit drink given by his girlfriend.

A request has been placed to constitute a medical board to report the exact cause of the death, the SP said.
The decision to hand over the case to the crime branch was taken after the complaint from Raj’s parents that Parassala police were trying to cover up the case.
DSP K J Johnson will head the investigation team, which will include police officers from Parassala station as well.
“The cause of the death is still unknown. Steps are on to access the forensic report and it will be examined whether the drink was given intentionally to kill Raj. In the dying declaration, Sharon has not named any person and ruled out the possibility of the girl giving the drink intentionally to kill him,” said the SP.
She said that as per the preliminary findings, Raj had tasted the ayurveda medicine used by the girl.
“More information of the incident will be known only after a thorough probe,” said the SP.
The SP also said that the link between the incidents in which an 11-year-old boy died in similar circumstances after consuming juice given by an unidentified schoolmate in uniform will also be examined by the team.
Meanwhile, the girl has pleaded innocence before the media. “I am being portrayed as a killer and I don’t know what will happen to me as I am not able to withstand this torture,” she said.
“I have told everything to the police officers. A proper probe must be held to find the exact cause of his death and I must be punished, if I am proven wrong. I will not kill a person whom I love a lot. Had it been needed I could have done it before,” said the girl.
“When he came to my home, I was having the ayurvedic medicine and he encouraged me to have the medicine by drinking himself. Due to its bitter taste, I gave him the juice. He started vomiting abruptly and left for home,” said the girl.
In the last audio clip sent to the girl, Raj is heard saying that he did not tell his family that he had consumed the ayurvedic medicine.