KOZHIKODE: Police said the inmate at the Kuthiravattam Government Mental Health Center, who was found dead in her cell, was strangled to death. This was revealed on post-mortem examination. Maharashtra native Jiya Ramjilott, 30, was found dead on Thursday morning. Police said they have identified another hospital inmate as the accused. But further action will be taken after checking the mental health status of the latter.
“Primary autopsy observations suggest this is a murder. He had injuries to his lip and forehead. The defendant had hit the victim’s head against the wall. However, the cause of death is likely to be strangulation. And it may have happened during the fight with his 19-year-old inmate, around 7pm Thursday night,” said K Sudersan, ACP, of the Medical College Police.
“Although the staff separated them and removed the 19-year-old girl, the victim remained in the cell. She could have died later. A person can die within seven to 10 minutes after being strangled. More details will be revealed in the detailed post-mortem report,” she said. In the forensic room, three inmates remain in a cell. Sudersan said police will collect detailed statements from other Jiya inmates, including the 19-year-old girl Jiya fought to fall asleep inside the cell.
When staff intervened upon hearing the noise, they found the teen with a bloody nose. They immediately changed her to see how she was doing. But Jiya’s health condition went unnoticed. Meanwhile, the state human rights commission voluntarily filed a case based on media reports. The judicial member of the Commission, K Byjunath, visited the premises on Saturday. The commission has asked Superintendent KC Ramesh and the district police chief to file a report within 15 days. The case will be considered in a session to be held on March 22.
Ramesh said the center will need more security personnel. The center has 469 inmates and 286 employees. He said there are 28 vacancies left. “We only have four security guards at the hospital. They will be displayed primarily at the main entrance. Surely we need more security guards,” he said. Along with the nursing staff, more security guards are needed in the women’s wing to handle violent situations.
