Kerala: Maoists' uniform has no bullet marks, blood stains

KOZHIKODE: The cloud of suspicion over police claims in the alleged encounter deaths got strengthened as the olive green uniform worn by Maoists Kuppu Devaraj, 62, and Ajitha, 46, did not have any blood stains or bullet holes. The suspicion shifted to the dress after findings in the post-mortem report on the body of Kuppu Devaraj revealed seven bullet marks of which four were recovered from the body while three bullets pierced through. In the photograph of the body of Kuppu Devaraj was found in an upside down position. Forensic experts point out that Devaraj was hit while he was on the run.

So there should have been bullet holes and blood stains on the rear of his uniform. But the photograph released by the police has no blood stains or bullet holes. On the reason for the death of Ajitha, the post-mortem report reveals that her body had 19 bullet holes and 13 bullets pierced through her body. Five bullets were recovered from her body and experts failed to recover one bullet trapped inside which was located in the CT scanning. Again, the olive green uniform she was wearing neither had bullet holes nor were the blood stains visible. The post-mortem report further says that the internal organs of both Maoists were damaged in the firing. The spinal cord and lungs of Ajitha were torn into pieces.  

National Confederation of Human Rights Organisations (NCHRO) national secretary Reny Aylin told this newspaper that there was an attempt to tamper with evidence on the site. “That is why they prevented media from entering the shootout site after the incident. First there were reports that few mediapersons will be taken to the spot, but later they kept media out which indicates that police wanted to hide something,” he said. Babu Devaraj, brother of Kuppu Devaraj also expressed doubts over the dress when he was allowed to see the body before post-mortem. “My brother was wearing a white shirt with some blood stains on the chest,” Babu said.

Human rights activist advocate Thushar Nirmal Saradhy told this newspaper that the olive green dress without any blood stain or bullet marks worn by the two Maoists in the photographs is quite contradictory to the information available on the number of bullets that pierced through the two bodies. “Even the things exhibited by police, which they claim were seized from camps, also exposes the police version of an encounter as there was only one pistol. So it is clear that police used excessive force and gunned down an unarmed woman, that too by showering 19 bullets  from close range,” he added.