Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 6 (IANS) The Kerala government Monday ordered a Crime Branch probe into the unnatural death of 34-year-old Satnam Singh Mann, who was brought dead to the Medical College hospital Saturday night from the mental hospital here.

The victim’s relatives allege that he was brutally tortured in jail.

The state government will bear the expenses of airlifting Mann’s body to his hometown in Gaya in Bihar along with the travel-cost of one person accompanying the body.

The autopsy was conducted Monday at the Government Medical College hospital here in the presence of local district authorities.

The victim’s father arrived here Monday and spoke to the police. Mann’s cousin Vimal Kishore alleged Sunday that the deceased was brutally tortured in jail. He says that when he met Mann at a police station in Kollam last week, he was wearing only his underwear and there were no marks on his body.

Mann was arrested by the police when he created a ruckus at spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi’s ashram near Kollam last week.

He was charged with trying to attack the Mata.

Mann was a law student and was allegedly mentally disturbed.

The local police have registered a case of unnatural death and have begun investigation.

State Home Minister T. Radhakrishnan has asked Mann’s relatives to wait for the autopsy report.

Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash — under instructions from Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is in Delhi — visited the Medical College hospital and paid his last respects to the departed.

The body would be airlifted to Kolkata Tuesday at 5.50 a.m.