Fresh autopsy on Dalit youth's body in Telangana

A fresh autopsy was conducted on Monday on the body of a Dalit youth who died under suspicious circumstances in Peddapally district of Telangana.

Following the Hyderabad High Court orders, the body of Manthani Madhukar, 28, was exhumed and another post-mortem done at Khanapur village by forensic experts from the Kakatiya Medical Colleges and Osmania Medical College.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Sindhu Sharma, who is probing the youth's death, said the new autopsy was conducted amid tight security and in the presence of Karimnagar Chief Judicial Magistrate and Madhukar's parents.

The youth's family and Dalit groups alleged that he was murdered as he was in love with a girl from an upper caste. They claimed that under a conspiracy by some politicians to shield the culprits, the police was trying to give it a suicide twist.

They said only the girl's statement could bring out the truth.

Not satisfied with police investigations and the first autopsy report, Madhukar's mother Manthani Laxmi had moved the High Court, which on March 6 ordered the fresh autopsy and the submission of a report in the court in a sealed cover.

The petitioner had urged the court to order the registration of a murder case under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act instead of a case of death under suspicious circumstances.

Madhukar, a tractor driver, was found dead on the outskirts of Khanapur village on March 14.

Dalit organisations had last week taken to the streets, demanding action against the culprits.

The family alleged that after the girl attempted suicide on March 13, her family lured Madhukar to the village outskirts and bludgeoned him to death.

The youth's father Manthani Yellaiah alleged that six persons hacked his son to death. He said the body bore injury marks and one of his eyes was gouged out.

He said his son had been receiving death threats for the last one month. He also alleged the involvement of a local lawmaker.

Police said so far 60 persons have been questioned, including six who have been detained and their phone calls details were being examined.

--IANS

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