NAGPUR: The state criminal investigation department (CID) has taken over the deemed custodial death of 40-year-old Manoj Thawkar from city police on Tuesday. Thawkar was physically challenged and visually impaired.
Earlier in the day, Thawkar’s postmortem was conducted in-camera by a team of three forensic experts in the presence of judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).
Sources said the postmortem report was inconclusive with the experts ‘reserving their opinions’, referring the case for histo-pathological examination. The preliminary findings only trace some abrasions on his upper right arm and right leg.
The city police will now send the footage of the postmortem, along with relevant documents, to the National and State Human Rights Commissions separately, said city police chief Amitesh Kumar, who took the initiative to communicate with the state police headquarters to ensure State CID takes over the case.
Thawker was allegedly assaulted by cops at a security checkpoint near Hanuman temple at Pardi, after he tried to flee on his scooter injuring probationer sub-inspector Mukesh Dhoble. This led to an angry confrontation, earning the wrath of the cops deployed at the nakabandi.
Three cops, including sub-inspector Dhoble from Pardi police station, were shunted out and attached to control room for a fair probe by city police chief Amitesh Kumar. Two traffic cops from Kamptee division too have been instructed to be shifted elsewhere.
Though family members claimed Thawker was never diagnosed with any serious health conditions, like heart problem, to die so abruptly, police said CCTV footage underlines the fact that he collapsed while waiting at the police station without anyone physically manhandling him.
“The cops showed us CCTV footage of my elder brother at the police station but we have heard he was thrashed. Some injuries were also seen near his eyes,” said Thawkar’s elder brother Vinod. He said government should consider giving a job to his brother’s wife and compensate the family.
Thawkar was pronounced brought dead at a private hospital after collapsing at Pardi police station. Amid furore over allegations that Thawkar was thrashed by cops on bandobast duty, Pardi police registered a case of accidental death.
An officer said the CCTV camera at the police station showed Thawkar was seated alone from 6.30pm to 8.30pm without anyone assaulting him.
The police sources also said Thawkar had asked for water, after which he collapsed holding his chest. “The officer injured by Thawkar had been dragged for around 200meters but the latter did not stop, which has been captured in CCTV. Two civilians helped the cops chase Thawkar. He probably fell from his scooter in the melee but this is under probe now,” said the senior cop.
