Mahendra Seenarine, who was found hanging in the La
Grange lock-ups on Tuesday
night, died from asphyxiation due to hanging, the post-mortem
examination
has revealed.
Seenarine, 38, and a labourer of Good Land, Canal Number
One, West
Bank Demerara was discovered hanging in his cell
at the lock-ups around 9:30 pm on Tuesday during a routine check, the
police had said.
In a statement the force had stated that the Office of
Professional Responsibility (OPR) was investigating the
circumstances surrounding the man’s death. “He was found hanging
by his pants and t-shirt which were tied together from the door of
the lock-ups. No marks of violence were seen on the body,” the
statement had said.
The post-mortem, which was conducted at the Georgetown
Public Hospital on Thursday by Dr Nehaul Singh, found that he died
as a result of “asphyxiation due to compression injuries to the
neck by hanging,” the
police stated in a press
release.
His wife, Salina Dilchand had earlier told this newspaper
that Seenarine had been detained over the beating of his
six-year-old stepson, after neighbours reported the matter to the
police.
In recent years a number of detainees have died in lock-ups
in varying circumstances. In July 2004, 38-year-old Kellawan Etwaroo,
called “Ramesh” of La
Grange, was discovered dead in the La
Grange lock-ups. A post-mortem examination
had revealed that Etwaroo died from blows to the head inflicted with
a blunt instrument and he suffered a massive haemorrhage and his
body also had marks of violence.
More recently, on October 31 last year, James
Nelson, 47,
called ‘Jimmy,’ of Stanleytown, West
Bank Demerara was found dead in a cell
at the Brickdam lock-ups. Relatives had said that they were told
that he suffered a ruptured spleen, among other injuries. The
Police Complaints Authority (PCA) had looked into the matter
and concluded that the evidence was not clear as to who inflicted
injuries on Nelson, and while recommending that an inquest be held
had said that the ultimate decision rests with the Director of
Public Prosecutions (DPP).
In June last year, 32-year-old Surendranauth Bogenauth
called ‘Slackie’, of Belmont, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara, who
was placed in the Mahaica Police Station lock-ups after allegedly
hitting a woman, was found hanging in the lock-ups. A post-mortem examination
showed that he died from asphyxiation due to a compressive injury to
the neck.
In January last year, 19-year-old Ramesh Sawh was found
hanging by his jersey in the Enmore Police Station lock-ups. A
post-mortem examination
gave the cause of death was given as asphyxiation due to compression
of the neck due to hanging. An inquest into the death was
subsequently ordered by Chief Justice Ian Chang.
