Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Nov 12: After the state human rights commission registered suo moto case relating to suicide committed by first class magistrate from here, V K Unnikrishnan (48) at his residential quarters on the basis of newspaper reports, its head, P Mohandas, ordrered the superintendent of police here to investigate the case and file report. Policemen arrived at Sullia for investigation on Friday November 11.

Unnikrishnan's relatives have alleged conspiracy in his suicide. They pointed out that Unnikrishnan, who belongs to scheduled caste, had risen to the position of magistrate with his own efforts. It is said that he was rank holdelr in both LLB and LLM examinations, and had got selected to legal service after getting tenth rank in magistrates examination, without in any way using facilities for which scheduled castes and tribes are eligible.

The inquest report about his death has surprisingly mentioned about marks made out of assault. A team of doctors headed by head of forensic science department of Pariyaram Medical College Hospital, Dr Gopalakrishna Pillai, reportedly says that different parts of the magistrate's body bore marks made of attack with canes and shoes

Unnikrishnan had complained about assault on him during his visit to Sullia, in a complaint addressed to the district superintendent of police here. Karnataka police have maintained that Unnikrishnan created scene in a drunken state.

BJP's district unit here has demanded for detailed investigation into the death. District BJP president, K Srikant, through a release, said that injury marks on Unnikrishnan's mortal remains shows the Karnataka police tendency of being aggressive. He said he would be sending petitions to home ministers of Karnataka and Kerala in addition to leaders of the opposition, demanding investigation into the incident.

Police circlel inspector, Abdul Rahim, stated that further steps would be initiated after the receipt of postmortem and inquest reports. He clarified that no death note or letter were found from the spot where Unnikrishnan had hanged himself.