Mumbai: Proving the activists’ allegations of police torture right, the forensic department in Aurangabad has confirmed that the 35-year-old law student, Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi, died due to “shock following multiple injuries.” Suryawanshi was among over 50 other Ambedkarite youths arrested for their alleged role in the vandalism carried out a day after a miscreant desecrated a replica of the Constitution in Parbhani. He died on December 15.
The provisional post-mortem report.
Before being sent to judicial custody on December 14, Suryawanshi had spent three days in police custody. His lawyer, Pawan Jondhale, had argued before the magistrate’s court that police atrocities had occurred and that most of those arrested had suffered both internal and external injuries. The magistrate, according to Jondhale, made only a cursory inquiry. When those arrested were unable to speak due to the heavy police presence inside the court, the magistrate sent Suryawanshi and others to judicial custody. A few hours later, inside the jail, Suryawanshi reportedly developed “chest pain” and was moved to the government hospital where he was declared dead, according to Shahaji Umap, inspector general of the Nanded range.
Suryawanshi’s death sparked agitation across Parbhani, with many anti-caste groups calling for a state bandh. Political and social activists demanded an in-camera post-mortem outside Parbhani.
Suryawanshi’s body was moved to Aurangabad, over 210 kms away. The forensic and toxicology department of the Aurangabad Medical College formed a six-member team to conduct the post-mortem. The preliminary report mentioned that Suryawanshi’s body underwent shock after suffering multiple injuries.
Also read: Parbhani Violence: Police Accused of Beating up Dalit Youth, Carrying Out Combing Operations
Suryawanshi’s death has triggered a political blame game, with the opposition directly accusing chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of mishandling the situation in Parbhani. The Wire had earlier reported in detail on several instances of police violence against men, women and young children in Dalit-Bahujan bastis across Parbhani. In many videos recorded by locals, police can be seen deliberately entering Dalit slums and destroying private property. Suryawanshi’s death highlights the extent of the violence that was unleashed on Dalit-Bahujan Ambedkarite youths in the district.
Suryawanshi, who belonged to the nomadic tribe Wadar, had been doing odd jobs to support his studies. His brother and mother worked as labourers in Chakan, Pune.
Suryawanshi was a local activist of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) party. Since the violence erupted, VBA founding leader Prakash Ambedkar has been demanding action against the police.
On Monday, December 16, as Ambedkar headed to Parbhani, he and his party leaders were stopped by the police. Suryawanshi’s family was also initially prevented from entering Aurangabad, and later, the police insisted that his body be taken to their hometown in Latur instead of bringing it to Parbhani. However, the police had to step back as the gathered crowd became agitated.
