Mysterious death of RIMS student : Post mortem report points to death by asphyxia
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 21 2021:
Sanaton Athokpam, the 5th Semester MBBS student of RIMS died due to asphyxia resulting from hanging and his death was a case of "suicide" revealed a hearing in the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West today.
During the hearing today, the Court allowed an application filed by SDPO (Sub-Divisional Police Officer) Lamphel, Thomas Thokchom to extract data from the Sanaton's mobile phone and Tablet with the help of the National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Kohima.
Meanwhile, it may be noted here that the Justice For Sanaton Athokpam and family members have been demanding the police to disclose the post mortem report including the cause of the death.
They had alleged foul play asserting they suspect Sanaton was "murdered" considering the circumstances in which he was found dead.
During the hearing in the Court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Imphal West today, the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case, SDPO Thomas Thokchom, in his application mentioned that the police received information from the police picket at RIMS about Sanaton's death at around 2.15 pm of March 15 .
As per the application, 22-year-old Sanaton Athokpam was found hanging at his room (No C-15) of UG Gents Hostel No 3 of RIMS and was evacuated to RIMS Casualty for medical treatment.
He was declared brought dead by the doctor on duty at around 2.05 pm (March 15) .
Immediately after the incident, a team of Lamphel Police Station was sent to lock the room to prevent disturbance at the crime scene.
The inquest of the dead body was conducted at RIMS Casualty in presence of a mobile forensic unit of Imphal West.
It was noticed that the hand of the deceased was bound from behind by woollen thread.
A ligature mark was seen on the neck of the body, bruise mark was seen on the little toe of the left leg and injury marks were also seen on the lower back, said the IO.
Further, the Investigating Officer submitted that the postmortem examination report has also been collected from JNIMS and the doctor concerned opined that the death was due to "asphyxia resulting from hanging" and "suicidal in nature" .
A crime scene investigation report has also been collected from the scientific officer of the Mobile Forensic Unit, Forensic Science Laboratory, Manipur and it was opined that "the death could be due to the hanging and the hanging could be ante-mortem and suicidal".
The IO submitted that the mobile and the Tablet belonging to Sanaton were sent to NIELIT Manipur and the CFSL Kamrup, Assam for examination but the items were returned as they were unable to extract the required data.
As per the NIELIT Manipur official, NIELIT Kohima might have the required tools to extract the data out of the mobile phone and the Tablet, said the Investigating Officer asking the Court's permission to approach NIELIT Kohima to extract the data from the devices.
The Court on perusal of the submissions, observed that the investigation of the case is being delayed due to non availability of the information/data from the deceased's mobile phone and Tablet.
The Court then allowed the prayer of the IO for proper investigation.