Kasaragod: Farm labourers body exhumed for autopsy

Kumble: The mortal remains of Jharkhand-based farm laborer Shivachand, who was buried in a farm in Kaniyala Mundoli, were exhumed on Sunday. The body was shirtless and was bound in a sack when it was lifted.

The exhumation was carried out in the presence of several government officials including Revenue Officer Ando P J, Medical Officer Dr. Rohit, forensic officer Deepna, Kasargod DYSP Balakrishnan, Manjeshwar CI Santosh and SI Ansar. The corpse was taken for an autopsy.

A large crowd had gathered at the farm to witness the exhumation of the body.

Vishwanath Bhat, a resident of the area, had taken up works to trim a tree in his brother-in-law Govinda Bhat’s areca nut plantation on December 25. During the initial investigation, it was claimed that Shivchand had died of electrocution after a tree branch came in contact with a power line and was buried near a pond on the farm. However, the version of events is not credible, police said.

Differing statements

According to sources, the owner of the plantation has given a different version of the events that transpired. As per his statement, the workers had informed him on December 23 about Shivchand’s death due to drowning. When he arrived at the farm on December 24, he found the corpse buried in the farm.

The differing statements from the farmworkers, Vishwanath Bhat and Govind Bhat have raised suspicions about the death. The truth will come out only after the post mortem report, sources said.

Suspects released after questioning

Vishwanath Bhat and other laborers who were present at the time of Shivachand’s death were detained by police for questioning by Manjeshwar police. They have now been conditionally released.