Vengode Chandran lynched to death [ Kerala, India]

[ Reported as seen]

50 year old, Vengode Manalakam  Chandran  alias Tulasi, of Gokulham House was lynched to death near a temple in thiruvananthapuram. It is now alleged that the criminals are trying to paint to him as a petty thief. The ocal police, media and the doctors who conducted the autopsy are set to be a part of the conspiracy.

The local police claims that here is no evidence of mob lynching.

Chandranunderwent operations at the medical college before succumbing to his injuries on 11 June. According to his relative, Sasikala, Chandran was a victim of mob lynching, following which the police were forced to register a case of unnatural death. Doctors admitted that he had severe injuries to his intestines.

Chandran had a history of intestinal problems and had had an operation for the same ten years ago. Even in the FIR registered in today’s date, the  police did not name the murderer.

Chandran is said to be thrashed severely thrashed by a mob near the Chirayinkeezhu area of Thiruvananthapuram on 28 May. He passed away at the Thiruvananthapuram medical college hospital on 12 June. Initially, the police soft-pedalled the incident, and the doctors said there were no external injuries.

The lynching happened near the Perunguzhi Siva Parvati temple around midnight on 28 May. Some people alleged that Chandran was a thief, tied him with ropes to a lamp post and allegedly thrashed him severely.

The perpetrators themselves uploaded the video but did not record the ones where they thrashed him. They shared videos where Chandran is seen begging for mercy and on the verge of collapsing, while someone can be heard threatening him.

Viral videos on social media show the victim begging for water after the thrashing. The perpetrators deny it to him, and gives in to please his tortures. Images later emerged that show a few household lamps that he allegedly stole, but there are allegations that those were planted after the lynching.

Chandran’s assailants then contacted the Attingal police around 2 am on 29 May. The police acted without apathy and kept on brutally asking him questions while he lay on the ground, injured with his hands tied up.

Police officers now claim Chandran did not inform them about any physical assault though he mentioned stomach pain.

The police informed Chandran’s relatives, following which Sasikala and another family member went to the police station and released the victim on bail. Interestingly, police officials say that he was released on station bail as the house owner (from where Chandran allegedly stole) refused to file a complaint.

On 31 May, Chandran complained of stomach ache and was taken to the primary health center near Vengode. By 9 June, his health deteriorated and he was admitted to the medical college. Doctors detected a bulge in his intestines, and he was operated upon. The victim never recovered, and he died.

Station House Officer Prathapa Chandran said that following Sasikala’s complaint, an inquest was held in the presence of the Revenue Divisional Officer, and they spotted ‘no external injuries’ on the body. He said the doctor who conducted the autopsy said that he found no evidence to suggest Chandran had died due to injuries resulting from the assault.

“There were no contusions in the body. If Chandran had sustained any internal injury, as alleged by the family, he would have died of internal bleeding soon after the incident. Also, the family did not raise such an allegation till his death,” the SHO added.

The population that went outrageous at the case of Tabrez Ansari is now nowhere to be found. They want to hear about Tabrez Ansari but not the many like Chandran.