Conduct post-mortem in case of any suspected starvation death:

Jharkhand government has instructed all district magistrates and deputy commissioners to make post-mortem mandatory, in case any suspected starvation death was reported in their district, a senior state minister said today.

Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Minister, Saryu Roy said his department has sent a letter directing all district administrations to conduct post-mortem, in case any suspected starvation death was reported in their district.

Referring the death of Savitri Devi due to alleged starvation in Giridih district on June 2, Roy said she died of "some other reason but certainly not starvation".

The minister said a two-member team comprised of joint secretary of his department, Vinay Kumar Rai and additional director, Sanjay Kumar were asked to submit a report after thorough investigation in the incident.

Based on the report submitted by the two-member team, Roy said Savitri Devi's death was caused by "some other reason", which needs to be looked into, but certainly not due to starvation.

The victims two sons are working outside Jharkhand and their statement has been recorded, he said adding that even the family members of the victim had given in writing that they did not want post-mortem to be conducted on the body when the Block Development Officer suggested for it.

No one from Savitri Devis family had applied for a ration card, he said adding that she had even undergone treatment in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi.

On this basis, we have asked all the district administrations to make post-mortem mandatory, in case of any suspected starvation death was reported.

Without naming any political party, Roy said some forces have tried to propagate Savitri Devis death due to "starvation", which was unfortunate and a conspiracy to defame the image of the state government.

About another suspected starvation death in Itkhori in Chatra district early this month, Roy said the post-mortem on the victim had been conducted and a report in this regard was yet to come.

The victim was from adjoining Bihar and had came to Itkhori a fortnight before she died, he said claiming that the son of the victim had even admitted that her mother was a patient of tuberculosis.