Kozhikode Tribal Youth’s Death: Rahul Gandhi Writes To Kerala CM Demanding Probe

Kozhikode Tribal Youth’s Death: Initially, the police said that Viswanathan died by suicide but the police later changed the charges to an unnatural death. 

Chennai: Days after visiting the family of a 46-year-old Viswanathan who died under mysterious circumstances in Kozhikode, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wrote to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan demanding a probe into the circumstances that led to the death of a tribal youth. 

According to ANI, "Wayanad MP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have written to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan demanding a probe into the circumstances that led to the death of a tribal youth Viswanathan in Kozhikode."

On February 9, Viswanathan first went missing from Kozhikode GH after admitting his wife to childbirth. However, a few days later, the police said that he was found dead on a tree on the premises of the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Initially, the police said that Viswanathan died by suicide but the police later changed the charges to an unnatural death. 

The family members also said that he was not one to take such extreme steps and he was happy after having become a father after an 8 years wait. Relatives also said that Viswanathan had informed them that he was confronted by some people who alleged that he stole a mobile phone. However, the police said that they did not receive any evidence to support the claim, as per a report on The News Minute. 

On the other hand, the BJP said that it could be a case of mob lynching while the social media users also said that he was targeted since he was from an Adivasi community. 

Meanwhile, the medical college did not accept the stand of the family and they said that he wasn't manhandled. The police also said that the CCTV visuals showed no instance of a mob attack.