Tribal girl’s body exhumed; second autopsy in 12 days

June 26, 2016 03:06 am | Updated October 18, 2016 02:18 pm IST - NAGPUR:

The body of a tribal girl from Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, who was raped and killed before being branded a Maoist allegedly by the police, was exhumed on Saturday. A second post-mortem was conducted as ordered by the Bilaspur High Court.

The police had claimed that Madkam Hidme, an alleged member of the Kistaram division of Maoists, was killed in an “encounter” on June 13, a claim disputed by her family members. The family members and Aam Adami Party leaders had moved the High Court, accusing the police of “rape and murder” of Hidme.

In accordance with court directions, the body was exhumed in the presence of her family members and advocate Nihal Singh Rathod. The autopsy was conducted at Maharani Hospital in Jagadalpur district headquarters of Bastar.

However, the advocate and the family members were not present when the second post-mortem was conducted. The body was identified by AAP leader Sanket Thakur, a co-petitioner. The High Court has directed the authorities to submit the report of the second autopsy by June 27.

Judicial inquiry

The alleged fake encounter has become an embarrassment for the State government as the High Court order was followed by demand for a judicial inquiry by senior politicians.

Leader of opposition in the Chhattisgarh Assembly T.S. Singh Deo has written to Chief Minister Raman Singh demanding a judicial inquiry into the case. Former Chief Minister and newly formed Chhattisgarh Janata Congress supremo Ajit Jogi has warned of a “direct battle” to provide justice to Hidme’s kin.

Fact-finding teams stopped

The police had stopped fact-finding teams of the Congress and the AAP from visiting Himde’s home village of Gumpad.

“By not allowing the fact-finding teams to visit the village, the police have proved that it was a fake encounter and Madkam Hidme was raped and killed,” alleged AAP leader Soni Sori.

Photos of Hidme, released by certain senior police officers in Bastar after the encounter on June 13, have also raised several questions surrounding the girl’s death.

“Her mother has claimed that Hidme bore two bullet injuries on her body but the photo released by the police clearly shows that there were no blood stains on the Maoist uniform she was shown to be wearing. The first post-mortem was video-recorded by the authorities but they did not produce it before the court,” said Mr. Sanket Thakur.

Photo: A screenshot of a photo of Madkam Hidme circulated by Sukma SP Kalyaan Elesela on a WhatsApp group

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