'Loitam Richard punched on the face with intention to kill'
Warden PM report scrutinised, loopholes cited
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 22 2012: Syed Afzal Ali hit Richard on the face three/four times with an intention to kill in the night of April 17, hostel warden Sudhakar S has stated in his latest report given to Karnataka Police.

The warden's report was quoted in a statement which was circulated to media persons by the Justice for Richard group at Jupiter Yambem Centre this afternoon.

Addressing the media persons, Dr Bishwajit Elangbam who is working as an Emergency Physician in the UK remarked that the post mortem report which cited heart problems as cause of Richard's death sounds hollow.

The post mortem report neither mentioned basal skull fracture nor cervical spine fracture, which are the likely causes for the oozing blood from the ears and nose, he averred.

In most cases, the cause of blood oozing from the ears and nose is basal skull fracture, but the post mortem report has not made any mention on this point, said Dr Bishwajit.

The preliminary post mortem report had mentioned that blood was found oozing from the ears and nose of the late student and pictures also clearly show the bleeding nose and ears.

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Dr Bishwajit who is also a member of the Justice for Richard group said that the case of Richard's death should be investigated by an independent agency.

After the warden filed a report on Richard's death on April 18 to one Sub-Inspector of Madanayakanalli, the warden gave a report for the second time to the same police station on April 30 .

The second report clearly mentioned that he (warden) saw Syed Afzal Ali punching Richard on the face three to four times with the intention of killing Richard on April 17 night who was later found dead the following day.

Richard's father Dr Rajesh said that Richard called his mother in the morning of April 17 requesting for some money.

He also asked if he should still stay in the hostel.

After Richard's mobile phone was lost, Rajesh took a phone number of a nephew who was studying in the same college through one Washim with whom Rajesh got acquainted during his son's admission at Bangalore.

When Rajesh rang up the nephew and asked for Richard, he was told that his son was on the upper floor.

As he was told that there was exam the next day, Rajesh did not make any further call.

"At about 3.30 pm of April 18, one Dr Ajit rang me and informed me that Richard had expired.

He also asked me to come to Bangalore immediately" .

"We went to Bangalore the next day.

We were shocked when we saw Richard's body at the morgue", Rajesh said.

Richard was staying with one Saurav and Nikhil in one room.

When Rajesh reached Bangalore, Saurav was away appearing some exam.

Nikhil was also not there as he was reportedly going on a trip with his family.

Richard fought with some hostel-mates in from front of room no 111.But the door-knob of the same room was found broken.

There was something fishy in it, said Dr Rajesh.

He also rejected the claim that Richard fought because of a quarrel during an IPL match.

He pointed out that the warden's report did not mention any such things.

During post mortem examination on April 20, Richard was found bleeding on the nose, face and head.

Some paracetamol were also detected in the stomach but it was the normal dose.

Richard met with an road accident on April 15 and he sustained some minor injuries.

He was treated at Saptagiri Hospital.

It is most likely that the doctor prescribed paracetamol, Rajesh said.

When Richard was rushed to Saptagiri Hospital on April 17, the doctor present there was the same doctor who treated Richard earlier and he refused to accept the patient saying that the condition was too serious.

When Richard was taken to Victoria Hospital, half of his body had started decomposing.

In case the State Government could not persuade the Prime Minister to hand over the case to CBI, a complaint would be filed either at High Court or Supreme Court for a thorough investigation by an independent body, the aggrieved father said.