Thiruvananthapuram: Blow on head led to teen’s death

KOLLAM: The autopsy report said that Thevalakkara native Ranjith (18), who was asaulted by a group over an eve teasing incident, died of internal haemorrhage due to a heavy blow on his head. Ranjith – a student of Govt ITI, Chandanathope – breathed his last on Thursday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
On Friday district jail warden Vineeth was arrested in connection with the incident.Ranjith’s father Radhakrishna Pillai had filed a complaint that Thekkumbhagam police were trying to save the culprits, including a CPM branch secretary, in this case. The youth was attacked on February 14 at his home by Vineeth and five others.
Congress workers, who brought his body to the police station on Friday, had alleged that police were trying to save CPM workers. Ranjith’s mother had told the police that her son – who experienced periodic epileptic seizure – had lost his consciousness right after the first blow and the group assaulted him despite that.
DCC president Bindu Krishna said only charges of culpable homicide, amounting to murder, was slapped on one of the accused. “We have asked the commissioner to slap murder charges on the six-member gang, including CPM’s branch secretary. If not, we will strengthen the protest,” she said.
Thekkumbhagam police assured that it will probe the role of all those involved in the incident. But, CPM district leadership said Congress is trying to politicize the incident in view of Lok Sabha poll. Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala will visit Ranjith’s house on Sunday.