Date:21/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/21/stories/2008072152780100.htm

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Probe on into teacher’s death

Staff Reporter

11 Muslim Youth League activists taken into custody

LAST RESPECTS: Education Minister M.A. Baby paying his last respects to James Augustine at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital on Sunday.

MALAPPURAM: Eleven activists of the Muslim Youth League (MYL) were taken into custody in connection with the death of James Augustine, headmaster who died after allegedly being roughed up during violence at a cluster meeting for teachers’ training in Malappuram district on Saturday. Mr. Augustine died a couple of hours after he was allegedly roughed up by a group of MYL workers when he was on his way to attend a cluster training for teachers at Government Lower Primary School, Kizhisseri.

Quoting eye-witnesses, police sources said five youth were involved in the attack. The Headmaster fell to the ground when they hit him. However, sources denied that the attackers had kicked or trampled him. The post-mortem examination reports are expected in a day or two. Forensic Department sources said there was no visible injury on the body except a bruise below the right ear. Sources at Kozhikode Medical College, where the post-mortem examination was carried out, said Mr. Augustine had suffered no internal bleeding.

Police sources said he had no history of heart ailment or any major disease. Inspector-General (Thrissur range) P. Vijayanand said it would take a few days to confirm the nature of death. However, the police have registered a case under IPC Section 302.

Laid to rest

Staff Reporter writes from Kozhikode: James Augustine was laid to rest at the St. Thomas church, near Thottumukkam, in the district on Sunday evening. Dramatic and emotional scenes were witnessed at the Government Medical College Hospital mortuary and the house of the deceased at Pallithazham, near Thottumukkam.

A huge crowd had gathered at the mortuary where Education Minister M.A. Baby; Industries Minister Elamaram Karim; A. Pradeep Kumar, K.K. Lalitha and George M. Thomas, MLAs; and Mayor M. Bhaskaran; paid their last respects to Augustine.

An irate crowd prevented District Congress Committee president K.C. Abu and leaders of the pro-Congress Government School Teachers’ Union from paying their last respects to Augustine. The union leaders were roughed up by the crowd, mainly supporters of the CPI(M).

The last rites were conducted at 5.30 p.m. Mr. Baby, Mr. Karim and Deputy Speaker Jose Baby were among those present.