Forensic experts of lady Hardinge Medical College (lHMC) have opined that 41-year-old Gajendra Singh, a farmer from Rajasthan’s Dausa district who committed suicide in full public view during an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rally for farmers at Jantar Mantar on April 22, died due to hanging. Seven injury marks were also found on his body.
The final autopsy report was handed over to the Delhi Police on Tuesday. The autopsy report was signed by a panel of three forensic experts, Professor SK Naik and senior resident doctors Rahul Mohanrao and Kuldeep Kumar. The Delhi Police sent a copy of the autopsy report to the District Magistrate (DM) of New Delhi district and a copy has been sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as well.
The Pioneer is in possession of the copy of the post-mortem report and it states: “Cause of death was asphyxia caused by constriction of the neck as a result of ante-mortem hanging, probably using any soft broad ligature. All the external injuries are ante-mortem in nature and fresh in duration. Besides the ligature mark, other bodily injuries could have been caused during the process of climbing the tree for hanging. A one cm wide abrasion on the front of the neck was also visible,” the report further states.
The report also said that there were abrasion marks on his chin and right and left elbows. The investigators say that these abrasions were caused while he was climbing the tree or when his body fell to the ground. However, there were no fractures in any part of his body. Apart from thousands of people present at the rally, Gajendra’s death was witnessed by AAP leaders including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Meanwhile in its three page report to the MHA, the Delhi Police has claimed that they had advised the AAP to shift the venue from Jantar Mantar to Ramlila Ground anticipating a larger gathering but the request was turned down by the organisers. Arrangements were made at Ramlila Maidan for the rally. Had the organisers agreed to the request this tragedy could have been averted, said a senior police officer.
