Kerala police start probe on death of Dalit girl

KOZHIKODE: The police have started an investigation into the mysterious death of a dalit girl Athira, 19,  an employee of a private hospital at Kuttiadi here soon after she was picked up along with a colleague  by the police on Saturday night. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s office ordered the probe following  public protests over her death.  DySP  Jaison Abraham will conduct  the investigation into the circumstances that led to the incident.

The  Kuttiadi police had registered a case on the unnatural death of Athira,  daughter of Manoharan, belonging to Changanassery.  The girl who was admitted to the Medical College Hospital here on Sunday  morning after she had reportedly consumed poison breathed her last in the evening. Her brother Manu had filed a complaint raising suspicion on the death. Athira, an X-ray technician, was taken into custody along with her woman friend by a police team  while they were riding  a scooter, according to police. 

Athira’s sister Anjali also is working in the same hospital. After questioning, the police allowed the girls to go along with the hospital authorities. Later, the friend found Athira in a serious condition and she was  admitted to the MCH. Various organisations including DyFI, Janadhipadhya Mahila Association, Congress and BJP took out protest marches to the hospital on Monday.