Satnam Singh Mann

Satnam Singh Mann (Hindi: सतनाम सिंह मान) was a law student who was taken into custody for creating disturbances[1] at Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram at Kollam on 1 August 2012. He died of alleged torture on 4 August 2012 in custody.[2]

Satnam Singh Mann
Born
Satnam Singh Mann

19 August 1988
Gaya, Bihar, India
Died4 August 2012(2012-08-04) (aged 23)
Thiruvananthapuram, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationStudent
Known forAllegedly attempting to assault Mata Amritanandamayi and being murdered after that in a mental asylum under police custody

At the time of his death, he was a student of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow. Mann's relatives stated that they would approach NHRC for justice.[2] He had completed his schooling at Bishop Cotton School, Simla. He has three siblings. For five years prior to his death, he had been undergoing treatment at Bihar Institute of Mental Health at Bhojpur for paranoid schizophrenia.[3]

Death

On 1 August 2012, he attempted to barge onto the podium of Amritanandamayi at her ashram in Kollam. He was unarmed. According to police, he was screaming[4] and reciting words in Arabic.[1] He attacked security guards and then was overpowered by devotees, who handed him over to the police.[5][6] He was later taken to Government Mental Hospital, Peroorkada as he was showing signs of mental instability.[2]

The superintendent of the mental hospital stated that there were no injuries on Mann's body when he was brought to the hospital.[2] After being admitted to a mental asylum, Mann was attacked and was physically tortured. He died as a result of the injuries sustained in this attack.[7] He was taken to the Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram, but was declared dead on arrival.[8] During autopsy, 77 injuries were documented on his body.[3] He was only two weeks short of his 24th birthday when he died.

Probe

Kerala Police ordered a Crime Branch probe into the death of Mr. Mann.[9] The special investigation team concluded that the warder and an attendant had attacked Mr. Mann. Four inmates of the mental asylum had joined the two. As per the report, Satnam was beaten with a cable wire and his head was smashed against the wall. Vivekanandan (jail warder) and Anil Kumar (attendant) were arrested in this regard.[10] In the report to the high court, the SIT revealed that the cause of death was injuries sustained to head and neck. The incident was termed a 'custodial murder'.[11]

Mann's relatives later demanded independent probe in to the matter by CBI. This demand was conveyed to the Chief Minister of Kerala, Mr. Oommen Chandi.[12] The Chairman of National Human Rights Commission, Justice K.G. Balakrishnan opined that the death was suspicious.[13]

A press release by Matha Amritanandamayi Math had also demanded a probe into the alleged attempt to murder Mata Amritanandamayi.[3]

Recent developments

On 3 April 2014 the high Court of Kerala considered the petition submitted by Harmindar Kumar singh, father of Satnam Signh Mann, seeking for CBI probe into the death of his son. During the course of hearing, Public Prosecutor admitted before the court that there were some 'omissions' in the investigation. The High court demanded police to file a statement on this issue. The case will be considered again on 8 April 2014. Meanwhile, CBI have informed the court that it is not willing to take over investigation of the case.[14]

References
  1. Video of the incident on the podium and Mann being taken by the Police on YouTube
  2. Quadir, Abdul (8 August 2012). "Satnam Singh Mann's body brought to Gaya from Kerala". Times of India. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  3. അനീഷ്, ആന്‍സ്. "സത്നം സിംഗ്: ഈ രക്തത്തിന് നാമെന്തു മറുപടി പറയും?" (in Malayalam). നാലാമിടം.
  4. "Kerala: 'Ashram gatecrasher died after assault'". Ibnlive.in.com. 14 August 2012. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  5. Video of Mann being held at Police Station on YouTube He is talking to the Police
  6. "Kerala orders Crime Branch probe into Bihar youth's death". Khaleej Times. 7 August 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  7. "Mata Amritanandamayi-linked youth tortured to death: report". Indian Express. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  8. Shibu, T (7 August 2012). "സത്‌നാം സിംഗിന്റെ മരണം വെറും അസ്വഭാവികം മാത്രം!". Oneindia malayalam. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  9. Radha, Kollam (7 August 2012). "'Bihar youth who disrupted Mata Amritanandamayi's prayer died of torture'". India Today. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  10. "Satnam Singh tortured to death in mental asylum: Kerala police". Firstpost. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  11. "Satnam's death a custodial murder: SIT". The Hindu. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  12. "Satnam Singh Mann's Mysterious Death in Kerala: Family Losing Hope for CBI Probe". 4 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  13. "സത്നാം സിംഗിന്റെ മരണത്തില്‍ ദുരൂഹതയെന്ന് കെ ജി ബി". വെബ് ദുനിയ. 10 October 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  14. Press Trust of India (3 April 2014). "HC directs police to file statement on Satnam Singh's death". Business Standard. Retrieved 18 December 2018.
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