Chennai, July 18 (Bureau) A day after large scale violence took place at a private residentialschool at Kaniyamoor near Chinna Salem in Kallakurichi district following the death of a12th standard girl student, the Madras High Court on Monday ordered a fresh post mortemof the deceased, while coming down heavily on the perpetrators of violence. On a petition filed by the girl’s father, Justice N Sathish Kumar ordered a fresh autopsyby a team of three government doctors in the presence of the deceased’s father and hisadvocate and that the entire process should be videographed.Meanwhile, a total of 329 people, including juveniles were arrested in connection withthe vioelce, even as Tamil Nadu DGP C. Sylendra Babu said the investigation into thecase was transferred to the Crime Branch-Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID). Those arrested included School Correspondent Ravikumar, Secretary Santhi andPrincipal Sivachandran and two others–Chemistry teacher Haripriya and Mathsteacher Keerthana.
Observing that the peaceful protests turning violent suddenly did not appear to be amere act of provocation, the Judge said it only appeared to be “an organised crime. “Expressing deep sense of anguish over the violence having created an impressionas if Tamil Nadu was a State of lawlessness, the Judge directed the police to takeit as a test case and ensure that the action taken against the perpetrators of theviolence sends a strong signal to all others who might indulge in such acts in future. The judge directed the police to form special teams to identify the miscreants whohad instigated the protests, take stringent action and subject them to prosecution. The court also directed the parents to accept the girl’s body after re-postmortem andconduct her funeral rites peacefully. The police should ensure law and order during thefuneral rites,” the Court said. The Court also laid down the regulations in future cases of deaths of students in educational institutions, saying that CB-CID police only should probe the case and a team of three doctorsshould conduct the autopsy.
The Judge also said that the Court will monitor the probe against the rioters and that the Statepolice should not think that everything is over with this case and wanted them to think of thisas a test case, to prevent such incidents in future.“The police shall form special teams to identify the accused and a status report be filed on July 29 in connection with the violence,” the judge added. The Judge expressed his dissatisfaction against the litigant and state police for the “ law andorder breakdown” in the school’s area. The High Court insisted to the police that people who conducted parallel trials on social media,especially, on YouTube channels should also be traced. While calling for a status report by July 29. the Judge also restrained the girl’s parents fromgiving interviews to the media since the police feared that it might aggravate the situation further.