SATNAM SINGH

SATNAM SINGH

Kerala Crime Branch to probe youth’s death

State Police Chief Jacob Punnoose has ordered a Crime Branch (Crime Investigation Department) investigation into the death of Bihar youth Satnam Singh who was arrested by the Karunagapally police from the Mata Amritanandamayi Math near here on August 1.Mr. Punnoose told The Hindu on Monday that the police are treating it as custodial death and the investigation will be headed by B. Sandhya, Inspector General of Police (Crime Branch CID). An autopsy was performed on Satnam’s body at the government medical college hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday and the findings are awaited.Ms. Sandhya will submit a report on Satnam’s physical condition soon after his arrest from the math and during his police custody prior to his admission to the Mental Health Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. The probe will ascertain whether Satnam, 28, was subjected to any third degree measures prior to or after his arrest.Mr. Punnoose said that soon after his arrest, Satnam was subjected to a mandatory comprehensive medical check-up. Also, he was medically examined at several points. With the help of these medical reports, the probe can reach a conclusion.

Satnam died under mysterious circumstances at the Mental Health Centre on August 4.A statement issued by the math said that around 12 noon on August 1 while “Amma was giving darshan, a bearded man dashed up the stage knocking down many and headed straight towards Amma striking terror in the hearts of many. After much effort, the police officers on security duty there and devotees were able to apprehend the man, who was then taken to the local police station.”On the basis of statements provided by witnesses at the math, the police registered an attempt to murder case against him. He was produced before a magistrate court at Karunagapally on Thursday and remanded in the district jail. He is reported to have turned violent against some of the jail inmates.This compelled the jail authorities to admit him to the district hospital here on Thursday itself. From there, he was referred and admitted to the Mental Health Centre in Thiruvananthapuram the same day.

Prof. John Kurakar