Madurai, Dec 7 : Amid allegations of a college student death in police custody due to torture and protests by the family members, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court today directed the Ramanathapuram Government Medical College to conduct a re-postmortem of his body.

L.Manikandan (21), a resident of Neer Kozhiyenthal village near Mudukulathur in Ramanathapuram district died on Sunday, after being detained by the police during a vehicle check.

The student did not stop his two-wheeler, when the police conducted vehicle checks on the Paramakudi road on Saturday.

The policemen chased his motorcycle and detained him for interrogation at the Keezhathooval police station on the ground that he has been using a stolen two-wheeler.

Later, he was handed over to his parents. Soon Manikandan complained that the police had tortued him and became unconscious on Sunday.

He was rushed to Mudukulathur general hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead.

Alleging that her son died due to custodial torture as he vomitted blood and there has been injuries on his private parts, Manikandan’s mother L.Ramalakshmi moved the Madurai Bench of the High Court demanding a re-postmortem on the body.

After two days of protest in front of the hospital demanding justice and action against the police personnel involved in the alleged murder, the family relented after the court ordered a re-post mortem.

Passing orders on the plea, Justice G.R,.Swaminathan ordered a re-postmortem at the Ramanathapuram government medical college hospital and videograph the entire procedure.

The Judge also sought an assurance from the family members of Manikandan to accept the body after the re-postmortem and directed the police to provide protection from the hospital to the burial ground and also take necessary action to maintain law and order.

Leaders of various political parties, including the principal Opposition AIADMK demanded a CBI probe into the incident and a compensation of Rs 50 lakh to the family members of the student.

In a statement issued in Chennai, the AIADMK demanded justice to the student’s family and said a s a responsible opposition it will not remain a mute spectator for the deteriorating law and order situation.

‘If this continued, there will be a situation wherein people will hit the streets to stage protests’, it said.(UNI)