Body of teenager exhumed to ascertain cause of death

Family suspects it was a murder, not a suicide

KARACHI:

The body of a grade nine student of Bilal Colony was exhumed after his family suspected that his murder was painted as a suicide.

Police have registered a case under the murder section and started investigation.

The incident took place about two months ago. On March 3, the strangulated body of 16-year-old Ali Raza son of Aslam Hussain was found on March 3 in his house in New Karachi. The body was taken by the family to Abbasi Shaheed Hospital where doctors confirmed the death after examination.

The family members, however, took the body away with them from the hospital without any police action and buried it in New Karachi Industrial Area graveyard.

According to the family, the body was at the door of the stairs leading to the roof. The rope was wrapped around Ali's neck and the other end was tied to the ceiling of the door while its height was not high enough for Ali to commit suicide by hanging from it.

Ali's family, however, kept inspecting the incident site. They suspected that Ali was killed and it not a suicide.

The family contacted the police after consultation and reported the whole situation.

Bilal Colony police registered case on the complaint of Ali Raza's mother Zehra Kanwal on March 13, 10 days after Ali's death.

In this regard, the police officials said that it was very important to examine the body first during the investigation for which an exhumation request was made to the court concerned.

After obtaining permission the body was exhumed under the supervision of a magistrate under all applicable laws.

Dr Zaki Uddin Ahmed, Head of Forensic Medicine, Dow University, Dr Gulzar Ali Solangi, MLO, Civil Hospital and Dr Sohail Ahmed Yar Khan, Additional Police Surgeon, Sindh Government Hospital, Saudabad were present on the occasion.

After exhuming the body, samples were collected and sent to the laboratory.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2022.