Loitam Richard's case : Karnataka CM assures second post mortem exam at AIIMS
CBI sidestepped, case to be handed to Corps of Detectives
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 21 2012: In a somewhat positive development, Karnataka Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda has reportedly assured that a fresh post mortem examination in the 'murder' case of Loitam Richard would be conducted by forensic experts at AIIMS, New Delhi for a second opinion.

Simultaneously, Gowda has also assured to transfer the investigation of the case to the 'Corps of Detective' Karnataka, a move that has come in the face of the people's demand to rope in the service of the CBI to probe the case.

The assurance was given to Manipur unit BJP president Sh Shantikumar Sharma during a one-to-one meeting at the former's office chamber today afternoon, said Laimayum Bashanta Sharma, state unit secretary (media affairs) of the party.

In a separate meeting, Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok also gave the same assurance to Shantikumar, Bashanta said adding that after calling on the two leaders, Shantikumar held another meeting with students on the matter at Bangalore.

Student activists burn the effigies of political leaders to demand justice

On April 18, Richard, a resident of Uripok Yambem Leikai in the heart of Imphal was found dead on his hostel bed.

Senior students of Acharya NRV School of Architecture in Bangalore allegedly assaulted him severely inside the hostel complex the previous night.

Forensic doctors at Victoria Hospital who conducted the postmortem said his death could be due to a heart ailment, which may be hereditary, and ruled out the injuries inflicted during the assault as the cause of the death.

The preliminary post mortem report had however pointed out a large number of injury marks on the body of Loitam Richard.

Laceration over the outer aspect of the left eye brow, laceration over left forehead, on reflection, diffuse blood extravation present over frontal and occipital region, oozing blood over both nostrils and mouth etc, were mentioned in the report.

Angry students of Manipur who have been agitating to bring justice for Richard and another Manipuri student �Okram Laaba who also died mysteriously in Chennai last yearalleged that Richard's post mortem report was doctored.

Richard's parents who are medical practitioners too have refused to accept the PM report .

After the irate students vandalized and locked BJP office at Imphal, Shantikumar Sharma on Sunday air-dashed to Bangalore to pressurize the Karnataka Govt on the case.