Viswanathan | Photo: Mathrubhumi
Kozhikode: The CCTV visuals of Viswanathan, the tribal youth who was found hanging from a tree near Kozhikode Medical College hospital, has surfaced. In the visuals, the youth is seen standing and walking on the hospital premises.
As per reports, the police have also retrieved the footage of Viswanathan standing helpless amid a crowd during the dispute alleging theft of a mobile phone and a purse.
According to the police, the youth could have committed suicide due to mental trauma following the unexpected mob allegation and interrogation.
Meanwhile, the Kerala police, which faced backlash for negligently handling the death of a tribal youth near Kozhikode Medical College Hospital, has expanded the probe into the case.
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 State and National SC-ST Commissions had expressed 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.
The youth had gone missing from Friday morning and was later found dead near the construction site of a new bus terminal in the area.
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