BHUBANESWAR: The mystery over the death of Manipuri youth L Poumai (23) seems to deepen with each passing day. His kin, who suspect foul play, alleged on Wednesday that the medical records have been tampered with.
Poumai’s kin accompanied by lawyer Ashphiri Zho met the doctor who first attended to Poumai at the Community Health centre (CHC) on November 30 after he was rescued from the tracks near Balugaon railway station by RPF personnel.
They also checked the November 30 admission register which had more than 20 entries where Poumai was placed at 16. “Surprisingly, there were two entries against serial number 16 and it appeared that Poumai’s name was adjusted in the register later,” his relative alleged.
The doctor said, Poumai did not have any serious injuries but was referred to Capital Hospital as it was an accident case. “If it was an accident case, then why was a medico-legal case not registered at Balugaon,” Zho said.
Poumai was admitted to Capital Hospital on the same day at around 2.30 pm and shift of the doctor who attended him was over at 9 pm.
Sources said, Poumai went missing from the hospital on November 30 night, but no hospital staff had seen him going out.
Incidentally, the hospital did not report about his missing to police the same night or December 1, even though there is a police outpost in the same building. Earlier, police had claimed that Poumai had been discharged. The CCTV cameras installed at the hospital need to be examined to ascertain movement of Poumai on that night, they demanded.
Zho also pointed to a flower plant which was located right below the branch of the guava tree from which Poumai was found hanging. The flower plant was untouched. “If a person commits suicide by hanging, the impact of his struggle would have shown on the plant,” Zho said. The feet of Poumai was touching the ground when police carried out investigation. The family of Poumai, accompanied by social organisations, met the Chief Secretary of Manipur O Nabakishore on Tuesday and apprised him of the status of investigation. “DSP-ranked officer of Manipur police has been deputed to join the probe. The officer will arrive in the City on Thursday,” Zho said.