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Mr. Justice A S Anand
Chairman
National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhawan
Parliament Street
New Delhi-110001
Subject: Complaint against custodial death of
Mallepalli Ramakrishna (30) of Yerragudipalle in Pulivendula mandal,
Cuddapah of Andhra Pradesh.
Dear Justice Anand,
I am writing to seek intervention
of National Human Rights Commission against the custodial death
of a fruit vendor, Mr Mallepalli Ramakrishna (30 years) of Yerragudipalle
in Pulivendula mandal of Cuddapah, Andhra Pradesh. He was in judicial
custody and died in the Cuddapah Government Hospital on 22 February
2003.
The victim's wife, Mrs Mallepalli
Lingamma alleged that Mr Ramakrishna died due to torture by excise
police and sub-jail staff. He was arrested by excise personnel for
keeping arrack (country made liquor) in a couple of places for his
consumption. He had been remanded in Pulivendula jail since 20 December
2002.
Mrs Lingamma alleged that
her husband complained of being tortured for three days and was
treated in the Pulivendula Government Hospital when she met him
in the jail on 13 February 2003. Ramakrishna, who was healthy earlier,
developed swelling on the face and legs due to reaction caused by
an injection given in the Pulivendula hospital.
Ms Lingamma alleged that
she was not informed about the death of her husband. When she went
to visit him at the Cuddapah hospital, she came to know that her
husband's body was placed in the mortuary.
I shall be grateful if the
NHRC could kindly make an urgent intervention and take the following
measures:
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Direct the State government of Andhra Pradesh to submit
the most mortem report which should have been prepared in full conformity
with the guidelines provided by the National Human Rights Commission;
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Direct the State government of Andhra Pradesh to suspend
concerned excise police and sub-jail staff responsible for the death
of Mr Mallepalli Ramakrishna;
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Direct the State government of Andhra Pradesh to order
a judicial inquiry into the torture and custodial death of Mr Mallepalli
Ramakrishna;
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Direct the State government of Andhra Pradesh to pay
an interim compensation of Rs 500,000 (five lakhs) to the victim's
family and that the same be recovered from the guilty police personnel;
and
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Take any other measures that the NHRC deems fit.
With kind regards,
Yours sincerely
Suhas Chakma
Director
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