New Delhi: Contrary to the Assam Police’s affidavit rejecting allegations of fake encounter, the postmortem report of three Hmar men reveals that severe physical assault, with evidence of “extensive bruising” and “wound marks in the private parts,” before succumbing to bullet injuries.
The report further stated that the injuries were “antemortem” and “homicidal” in all the three men.
The three, identified as Joshua (Manipur), Lalbiekkung Hmar and Lallungawi Hmar (Assam), were killed allegedly while in the Assam Police’s custody on 16 July.
In a statement, Superintendent of Police, Cachar, Numal Mahatta had said the three men were “armed militants” and part of a drug trafficking ring operating from the jungles of Bhuban Hills, roughly 15 km from where they were apprehended with weapons in an autorickshaw.
The Hmar families, however, had petitioned the Gauhati High Court, seeking an independent investigation into the alleged “extra-judicial execution” of the trio.
According to the post-mortem report, 19-year-old Lallungawi was found naked, in contrast to the images — which were widely shared on social media — showing all three men in camouflage jackets.
The report notes a “diffused contusion” on the right side of his scalp, bluish in colour, indicating it was caused by a blunt force injury inflicted while he was still alive. “Bruise/wound mark can be seen at the right bum area,” said the doctor, who conducted the autopsy,highlighting additional trauma to a private area.
Extensive bruising across the entire skull was found during the autopsy of Joshua, the report mentioned.
Internal examination revealed fractures in the second rib on the right side and the fifth rib on the left side, suggesting significant blunt force trauma to the chest area, which led to internal bleeding and subsequent clot formation, it added.
The doctor noted, “near the left bum region a wound mark (hole-like) can be seen,” indicating severe physical abuse.
Joshua also suffered multiple gunshot wounds that were blackened and abraded, which, according to a rejoinder filed by the three families, indicated were inflicted at close range.
While the report found “lacerated, muscle deep injury” over lateral aspect of both legs of the 32-year-old indicating “blunt force impact”, senior advocate Colin Gonsalves submitted in the rejoinder that a knife could have been used to scrape away not only the skin but also the muscle from the leg.
Lalbiekkung had extensive bruising, diffused contusion, and internal bleeding in the chest wall, the report said. Similar to the others, his gunshot wounds were blackened and abraded, supporting the autopsy analysis mentioned above that all three men were shot at close range.
“Cut marks can be seen at the right side of the bum area,” the doctor said, indicating that the 33-year-old too had suffered additional physical trauma before death.
ThePrint contacted Cachar SP Numal Mahatta for his statement to the autopsy findings. “We cannot comment on it because the matter is subjudice. This is the standard procedure,” he said.
In related developments Wednesday, the Gauhati High Court allowed the families to take over the bodies. A bench of Justices Kalyan Surana and Soumitra Saikia directed the Assam government to provide the necessary assistance to the families for the transfer of the bodies from Silchar Medical College and Hospital up to the state border.
The high court further directed the Assam government to submit a detailed counter affidavit within 2 weeks.
Gonsalves, meanwhile, told the court that the families do not wish to pursue another post-mortem, a demand made by them earlier.
The police had said that the three Hmar men were apprehended and taken to an area where other “militants” were hiding, following which they died in ensuing crossfire. However, alleged videos of the incident that went viral on ‘X’ prompted the families to claim that the three were killed in a “fake encounter.”
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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