A grieving father from Naivuvuni in Rakiraki is calling for answers from the police regarding the lack of post-mortem examinations on the bodies of his son, Kushal Kumar, and his son-in-law, Sandeep Narayan. The two men, whose bodies were discovered floating in the sea, had gone fishing two weeks prior, approximately 100 meters from the shore at Navatu, with their bodies being found a day apart.
Dharmen Kumar, who is both Kushal’s father and Sandeep’s father-in-law, expressed confusion and distress over the absence of standard protocol typically followed in such cases. “Naturally, one would assume they drowned and that is what we believed, despite the fact my son Kushal was a good swimmer,” Mr. Kumar stated. He is seeking clarification on the post-mortem process, which he believes was not adequately conducted.
As family members prepared the bodies for funeral rites, they noticed that the men’s clothes had not been removed and that no visible incision marks typically associated with post-mortem examinations were present. “This has caused concern and confusion, as we all know when a post-mortem is conducted, there is an incision on the chest where the pathologist is required to examine all internal organs,” Mr. Kumar added.
He highlighted that the post-mortem report stated the “cause of death cannot be ascertained.” He questioned how the family could accept that his son died from drowning without a proper examination. Further complicating their grief, he observed visible injuries on both men, including severe blood clots and bruising on their bodies that were not mentioned in the post-mortem findings.
The family is now seeking a formal explanation from the police regarding the decision to allow cremation without conducting necessary examinations. Mr. Kumar also questioned why forensic specialists were not brought in to inspect the scene and the bodies.
In response to these concerns, police spokesperson Ana Naisoro assured the families that the matter would be investigated and that the police would liaise with them for further clarification. As this situation progresses, it highlights the importance of transparent communication during such tragic events to provide grieving families the answers they desperately seek.