Slain maoist Manivasagam's body arrives in Salem

Salem/Madurai: The body of maoist Manivasagam, who was killed in an encounter with Kerala police in Agali forest on October 29, reached Salem government hospital on Wednesday evening based on the orders of the Madras high court. The family members of Manivasagam, a native of Kadayampatty in Salem district, had been trying to bring his body from Kerala unsuccessfully till the court intervened.

When the body reached Salem government hospital around 8.30 pm, his supporters raised slogans praising him and against the state and central government for gunning him down. The body has been preserved in the mortuary amidst tight security. Earlier in the day, a division bench of Justices S Vaidyanathan and N Anand Venkatesh also stated that the parole plea of Manivasagam’s sister Chandra and wife Kala, also alleged maoists , will be taken up on Thursday.

Petitioner S Anbarasan had moved HC Madurai bench seeking 30 days’ parole for the two women, who are detained at the Trichy central prison under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC sections, to enable them to attend the final rites of Manivasagam. The court had granted permission to the Manivasagam’s relatives to bring the body from Kerala in the light of the Kerala high court withdrawing its order to preserve the body.

When the petition was taken up on Wednesday, Anbarasan’s counsel submitted that Kerala police were refusing to hand over the body and asking for documents to prove that they were the relatives of the deceased. Taking note of the submission, the bench directed Kerala Police to hand over the body to the petitioner who is the relative of the deceased. The judges also directed the relatives to bring back the body to Salem government hospital.

Meanwhile, villagers of Kadayampatty petitioned the district administration not to perform his final rites in their village saying the peace in the village will collapse when Manivasagam’s supporters paid their tributes to him.