State SC ST Commission chairman BS Maoji visits Viswanathan's wife | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Kozhikode: The Kerala police, which faced backlash for negligently handling the death of a tribal youth near Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, has expanded probe into the case.
Reportedly, the police will conduct investigation by including the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act into the case, as directed by the SC-ST Commission.
Earlier, only a case of unnatural death was registered in connection with the incident. However, now a 10-member police team, led by medical college assistant commissioner K Sudarshan, has been appointed to probe the case.
The move comes in the backdrop of the State and National SC-ST Commissions expressing dissatisfaction over the case investigation. Following which, the latter registered a case and sought a report from the police and the district administration.
Meanwhile, deputy commissioner KE Baiju said that from examining the CCTV footage of the hospital and outside the hospital premises, it was clear that people were questioning the youth after alleging him of theft.
Viswanathan, a native of a tribal hamlet in Wayanad, was found hanging from a tree near the hospital on February 11. He had arrived at the hospital as the bystander for his pregnant wife.