Kerala Lynching: Madhu's body had internal injuries

Thrissur/Palakkad: Tribal youth Madhu Chindaki, who was tortured to death by a mob at Attappady on Thursday, had suffered injuries from  head to toes, as per the post-mortem report.  There are internal injuries all over  the body, including on the back of the head. A rib was broken due to the beating on his chest and he died due to heavy internal bleeding, said the forensic experts at Thrissur Medical College who conducted the post-mortem on Saturday  morning. The team was  led by head of the department Dr N.A. Balram.

The funeral of Madhu was held at his tribal settlement, Chindakkayoor, at 7 pm on Saturday. Palakkad S.P. Prateesh Kumar told mediapersons that 16 persons had been arrested and slapped with murder charges. He said  two forest watchers had allowed 16 men into the Andiyilakkara forest on Thursday afternoon. The forest watchers did not intervene when the mob beat up the youth. “We have sent a report to Silent Valley DFO to take action against the duo for dereliction of duty,” he said.

Thrissur range IG M.R. Ajith Kumar, who is  supervising the investigation, said that the youth was thrashed to death and that the accused persons would be slapped with murder charges, attempt to murder charges, forcible   confinement, SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, Forest Act and other charges. The Agali police on Friday evening had released the list of accused facing murder charges. Mecheriyi Hussian, 50, of Pakkulam,  owner of the grocery shop from where the tribal youth allegedly stole some rice and chili powder, is the first accused. Local IUML worker Ubaid Thottiyil, 25, of Mukkali, who is allegedly a close associate of Manarkkad MLA N. Shamsuddin, is also included in the list.