VISAKHAPATNAM: Alleging a major lapse in the post-mortem performed on the bodies of the Maoists, who died in the exchange of fire in Malkangiri forest region on Monday and Tuesday, rights activist and Virasam leader Varavara Rao on Wednesday accused the authorities of carrying out the procedures without following the norms.
Having toured the Malkangiri region for the last two days, Varavara Rao told Express that the post-mortem procedures were not performed in any hospital, but in some other areas.
He also said that according to the norms, the post-mortem should be performed in the presence of Human Rights Judge and three forensic officers.
“They (the authorities) did not follow any norms. They showed a woman Maoist’s photo before the procedure, but after the post-mortem, it did not have the head. The entire procedure was done in this way,” said Varavara Rao, adding that the officials should show the marks on body and then again show the body after the post-mortem.
“No forensic officers or any judge was present when autopsy was performed which is against the rules,” he added.
According to sources, the post-mortems were conducted near the SP camp office, for which the rights activist as well as family members, who had reached Malkangiri area of Odisha are finding fault.