Chennai, June 18:
Exactly 102 days after his death in police custody, the body of dalit youth R Aakash (26), was cremated by the police on the orders of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court.
In line with the court order, police cremted the body at Thathaneri crematorium in Madurai on Wednesday afternoon, despite stiff resistance from the victim’s family members, who had for long been demanding justice.
Before the final rites, grieving Aakash’s parents were allowed to pay their last respects to their son.
His death allegedly due to custodial torture, triggered massive protests in Sivaganga district.
The body was kept in the mortuary at the Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital for more than 100 days as the family refused to receive it, demanding the arrest of all the 16 police personnel allegedly involved in the incident.
While hearing the matter earlier this week, the High Court warned that police could proceed with the burial if the family continued to refuse to claim the body.
The court also observed that the body could not be kept indefinitely and directed the authorities to take appropriate action.
In line with the directives of the court, police brought the body out of the mortuary and cremated it, 102 days after he died.
It may be recalled that Aakash, a Scheduled Caste youth from Manamadurai, died in March following alleged custodial torture. Police said Aakash, a history-sheeter, sustained injuries after falling from a bridge while attempting to evade arrest and later died during treatment.
However, his family alleged that police personnel took him to a secluded location and assaulted him, causing severe injuries. The incident led to protests in Sivaganga district and a CB-CID probe was ordered into it. Though several cops were suspended and the case was later altered to include murder charges, their parents refused to receive the body demanding the arrest of all the cops involved in it.