The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Attur police in Salem district to take custody of the body of a DMK party worker who died on Monday during campaign in the Yercaud Assembly constituency, and preserve it in the current state. The by-election to the constituency is scheduled for December 4 (Wednesday.) The court posted the matter for further hearing to December 6.
Justice C.T. Selvam passed the order on a petition by V. Murugan of Mudianur in Villupuram district. The petitioner said his relative also by name Murugan was an active DMK party worker of Villupuram district. On Monday, when the campaigning was drawing to a close, Murugan was assaulted by some persons who were carrying deadly weapons and succumbed to injuries.
Alleging that Murugan was murdered, the petitioner said there was no proper investigation by police right from the time of reporting of the offence.
He prayed the court to direct the Attur police to alter the provision in the FIR to one for an offence under Section 302 (murder) IPC from the present Section 174 (Police to enquire and report on suicide, etc.) Cr.P.C. It should also direct the Dean, Government Hospital, Salem, to conduct the autopsy by three eminent doctors. The post-mortem should be videographed.
When the matter came up before Mr. Justice Selvam, the prosecutor submitted that after the post-mortem, the body had been handed over to the relatives.
